Growing Up Essay

Growing up is a gradual process of maturation during which we change from children to adults. This change is made possible by our experiences in our life and by the people who have influence upon our lives. Growing up is never easy and can be quite difficult in many cases. However, from proper support from those around us solutions can always be found for the obstacles that may stand in our way. Through the journey of growing up we develop a sense of maturity and individuality which sets us apart from those surrounding us. This is evident in the set text 'Angela's Ashes', a film about the hardships of growing up as the main character Frank McCourt explores the challenges of growing up. This process of growing up is also found in the 'Born on a Blue Day', a book by Daniel Tammet describing his hardships of growing up with Autism and 'I Had Bulimia and Depression', a feature article describing a young girl's fight with Bulimia and depression as a young girl. Each text once again outlines the importance of the process involved with growing up allowing us to gain a greater insight of what 'growing up' really means.
Childhood is important in the process of growing up as it is the time when children begin to develop personal identity, shaped on both positive and events which occur in this phase. This is evident in the film as the protagonist; Frank often skips his Irish dancing lessons in order to attend the movie theatre with friends. This scene is often filmed using close up shots, to allow the viewer to see the obvious happiness of the boy's face; diagetic music, which the boys present are seen to be enjoying and the voice over by the narrator, confirming the delight they got from watching the film with their peers. This scene depicts childhood in a very positive manner as it shows childhood can often be very joyous at times. The related text, 'Born on a Blue Day' however, shows the negative side of childhood. Daniel is often bullied at school and finds it hard to