Growing up :The scam we were never warned about

Growing Up: The Scam We Were Never Warned About

Remember when we were kids, living without a care in the world, everything provided for us by our guardians? Back then, growing up seemed like the ultimate freedom the ultimate chase ,and we couldn’t wait to fast-forward time. Little did we know what was waiting for us. When we finally come face to face with the horrors of adulthood, we can’t help but think back to those simpler days—wishing we could freeze time at a moment when life was still easy going and in our favor.

But then, reality hits. There’s that moment when you lose your smile, that moment when your innocence fades, and you’re exposed to the ugliness of the world. You long for a time when everything felt vibrant and alive, but now it all feels like a distant dream. The truth is, time has moved on, and we have no control over it.

From a young age, society glamorizes adulthood, fooling our unripe minds into thinking it’s something to look forward to. This so-called "freedom" is really just moving from one cage to another, with more space but far stricter, invisible rules. No one enforces these rules directly, but the consequences of not following them can be disastrous.As children, we used to imitate adult responsibilities in play, never realizing how unfun they actually are in real life. Now, faced with the weight of those responsibilities, it's hard not to wish we could go back. I’d give anything not to grow up.

It all seems to blow up in your face once you turn 20. I don’t know if others have felt this, or maybe some of you are past the age and think I’m exaggerating, but 20 just feels like a serious turning point. It’s the age that carries the pressure of having everything figured out. Turning 20 marks you as a "certified adult," and the thought of not having a clear plan for your future can drive you close to insanity.

There are milestones you set for yourself, or maybe your family has set them for you, and when you can’t see yourself reaching them—or worse, when obstacles seem insurmountable—it becomes overwhelming. It doesn't help when you see an agemate who seems to have everything mapped out or appears to be doing better than you. The comparison leaves you doubting yourself, wondering, "What am I missing? Where did I go wrong? Could I have fixed it back then?"

You begin to experience an identity crisis, questioning everything—your beliefs, career choices, and even your friendships. You're stuck in that awkward in-between space, no longer a teenager but not quite feeling like an adult, struggling with self-discovery that leaves you feeling shattered. You become an empty shell, holding onto just a sliver of reason, with a faint hope that you’ll have to make it through somehow, no matter what.This often leads to losing parts of yourself. People become withdrawn, friendships break, personalities shift, and social groups are reshuffled. The fear of the unknown—of how you’ll face what’s coming—clouds your mind every single day. You can't help but feel like you’re collapsing under the weight of it all.

Even though we say growing up is a scam and wish we never had to, the truth is, there’s nothing we could have done to stop it—even if we were warned. As I venture further down this road of self-discovery and into the so-called adult world, I’ll have to experience it for myself. Whether it turns out to be ugly or beautiful, only then will I be able to offer a more complete opinion.

 And again it's always my personal take on stuff

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