“Let He Who Is Without an Immature Moment Cast the First Penny”

“Dear Jehovah, why are these freshman SOOOOO ratchet?!” Every high school or college senior asks this question at least 50 times before the 1^st quarter ends. The funny part is how those seniors conveniently forget that they were once the subjects of the same inquiry. A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a past student about her year so far. This was her reply: “I’m good. Working hard, trying to have some fun my last year here—BUT THESE FRESHMAN… (*insert list of uncivilized activities here*)…!!!!!!!!!” I laughed in remembrance of her behavior three years prior—and even recently—but kept commentary to myself (and LAWD, did I want to let have!!). I cannot lie; I’ve been on both ends of the matter in high school and in college. It seems impossible that in three years practically everything can change within a person, yet such is life. But how so, you ask.

WELL, Susan Harter, previous Director of the Developmental Psychology Program at University of Denver, professed in a 1999 article that there are three age divisions within adolescence, and in each age period an adolescent will have a change in self-representation (the way they view themselves in given settings). The adolescent believes he or she has multiple selves and works to make sense of each “self”. In early adolescence (approx. 10-15 Y.O.), pubescents form single abstractions about who they are in certain contexts or relationships, but lack ability to compare them, causing them to inaccurately overgeneralize scenarios. Teens in middle adolescence (approx. 16-20 Y.O.), however, can connect abstractions; in spite of that, when comparing opposite abstractions, they become confused and upset by inconsistent behaviors (a.k.a. the “2-faced person” phenomenon). Late adolescence (approx. 21-25 Y.O.) brings about much resolution as the pre-adult finds balance with both negative and positive attributes, and he or she grows accepting of the necessary flexibility in his or her personality.

Not only are we quick to call out others when they do not stay true to who we believe them to be, but more often we sharply shun ourselves when we get caught lacking. Let me tell you, it’s never that deep. The process of finding oneself is a LAWNGH one, so instead of pitching pennies at newbies, why not gift them with good wishes?

- Brandon Avery