Emerging Adulthood Research Paper

Young adults in this generation are growing up slower than any other generation in history. Robin Henig calls this “emerging adulthood”. Emerging adulthood is full of “identity exploration, instability [and] self-focus” (Henig). All over the world young adults are having a hard time transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. This gap between adolescence and adulthood is emerging adulthood. Emerging adulthood should be considered a life stage because young adults are still finding their identity, they aren't being forced into adulthood and the education system is prolonging it. They can’t decide what they want to do in life or fail at attempts to live in comfort. A handful of young adults aren't being forced to grow up so they continue to do nothing with their life. The education system leaves most of them to get stuck going from major to major or they don’t get the proper help that pushes them to prosper in life.

A person's need for identity surfaces when they are kids, as they separate themselves from

“Parents are helping pay [these] bills they never counted on paying” (Henig). Even though this causes them stress they still support and push their kids to be what they want to be. Sadly, though, we aren't Barbie girls and we aren't in a Barbie World, we are in real life and here you need an education. Even though that major we are best at might have “fewer entry-level jobs” which leads us back to where we started (Henig). Jobs not being available discourages us and makes it harder to become adults. On the other hand, if they go to any “four-year colleges or universities [where] they get.... Alumni networks not available at community colleges” they could get a “leg up on their careers” (Henig). This leads to an internship at a good company or a great job. In this situation, the help of parents within education can help propel us to the next step in