Personal Narrative: In A Rush To Grow Up

In a Rush to Grow up

A year ago all I could think about was, what could be any better than being an adult. I had just been a year into my volunteering for Silver Cord (a school volunteer program) when I begun to think I was capable of working, because I enjoyed being able to give back to the community through Silver Cord. I needed something that would give me the chance to work weekly in the same environment. I thought work could grant me the pass to become a responsible adult. When I was hired the idea of being older, with more responsibility started to wear off. I slowly started to learn that becoming an adult took a lot more effort than anyone could’ve expected.

I remember the first day I walked into my place of work. The sun out and shining hitting my
face with its strong rays. My heart's thumping so loud from nervous energy that I couldn’t believe it was not leaping out of my chest. I walked in with a bright smile ready to kindly assist people, when I ran into my boss who talked to me about the in and outs, then handed a rag to me. I looked at the piece of cloth in my hand, it was blue with white stripes going up and down along both sides. I examined the rag only to find no secret coding with instructions embedded into its thin texture. What was I supposed to do with a rag?

Once my boss saw the confusion on my face, she told me what my first task of the day was to be. I remember thinking in my head, you want me to do that with this rag? I was about to say, I’m sorry Miss there is no way I can do that with this rag. When the realization that I was an employee came to mind.I realized that since I had chosen to take the job I had to complete the task assigned to me.

I learned to clean with a rag in unexplainably strange places, to sweep with a broom, and to take the trash where it belonged. I felt myself nearing the older, more adult me.Then it happened, I got the chance to communicate more with people. It was an honorable task entrusted with me, I was super excited. I set down my broom and my rag. I cleared my voice. Ready as I was I did not expect the amount of boredom and shock that I expressed due to some people’s behavior. Some people were so rude while also being extremely uncalled for. Others were so unsure of themselves I was sure that by the time they made a decision they would be gone with age.

Since the task, I thought so excitingly actually turned out rather annoying. It was decided, I could not be an adult for the fact that I could not fully communicate with others. The next weekend, I walked into work with my shoulders slump with the feeling of defeat lingering inside of me. I was going to do it; say goodbye to my job. The job that I thought was supposed to give me a bigger perspective of being older and helping others had gone in a different direction. Just as I was about to say my farewells.I got handed a slip of paper that made me think about taking a different approach, on the whole, being older decision. It was my first check being handed to me, maybe I could show my potential in growth by showing I was a great financial planner.

I was under the impression that the financial part of my life thing would've been the easiest to control. I assumed that I’d have a budget stopping me from overspending, to regulate me. Except I was wrong in the area of financial liberty I was amazed at how awful I was with spending. Swipe after swipe then buy after buy. I bought things that I did not need.

“This must stop. One day you’ll be an adult who needs to budget.” Said my father. An adult who needed a budget; I had thought about it but now I just thought, who cares; I'm still a kid anyway. Though eventually I began to save little by little I slowly become what they call a ‘good’ spender. Still buying worthless things but having enough money left to hear nothing of my bad habits.

Then again I thought, is this the moment that I'm finally growing up; getting the adult knowledge that I had been craving since day one. Not only did I have a job where I got used to actually working, I also had a budget that had me saving and was regulating me.

One night as I was transferring money into my savings accounts my sister sat down on my bed as said, "You should think about getting to know people since you work around so many. You're only young once anyway, make the most of each job while you're still young and carefree."

I tossed and turned that night, thinking of the words my sister had said. Thinking, how can it be? Young and carefree? I’d rather be working towards a bigger goal in life than being a child. I thought about it more till I fell asleep to the starry night with the accompanying car noises in the background.

The next morning I had woken still tired from my sleep. After eating breakfast and getting ready, I had my mom drop me off at work. I entered the warm bright room, that had none of the afternoon bustle and hustle yet. After doing my usual morning set-up and start-ups, the first round of customers came in. I did every task knowing that it was to be the same everyday routine. I decided to take my sister's advice; I started to truly speak to more people.

I spoke to a little girl with 2 missing teeth, who I learned carries a kind toothless grin after receiving what she wants.
I listened to an elder with gray hair and an uncontrollably shaky hand tell me about her visit to the Midwest. How she spent it with her young energy filled grandkids.

Within the next few weekends, I started to notice things. I noticed that the men with the hats will come every Sunday, pay with the same bill and receive the same change every visit. Also, the big family that shares their Sunday with our work environment chatting about peacefully. With these people, I learned that some people don't bring about boredom nor shock but wonderful stories that can interest any of the listeners.

Laying on my bed one night, I came to the realization that my sister’s words were right. Instead of hurrying to become an adult, I should take the opportunity to learn. Though this job couldn’t make me older than my true age, I figured no job could. I needed far more experience in life before claiming myself as an adult. I could work, budget, and speak with others though, only a teen I would be. A teen who still had a couple of years left till they fully signed their life away to
adulthood.