Young Adulthood
Lately I have been pondering the misuse of the term "Young Adult". When I entered middle school I was now directed to read the books in the "YA" section, as if the summer months had matured me from a mere elementary schooler to becoming a "Young Adult" middle schooler. Granted I am sure that I did mature, but probably not enough to become a "Young Adult", and what the crap does "YA" mean? Aren't there enough words in the english language to perfectly describe this transitionary phase between middle school and elementary school? If not I'll have to create one, because I find the idea of referring to my 12 year old self as a "Young Adult" distrubing, because if that's true then I haven't matured since then. Today, at the age of 24 I find that this is the appropriate time to refer to myself as a "YA", because I am adult yet I still find the process overwhelming in way that I didn't when I was 12. At 24 there are nuances to "YA-Hood" that I could never have appreciated, also it's sad and perhaps a sign of our times that we tell pubescent humans that they are "YA's". True several centuries ago this might have been true in most global societies, but in an age (21st century) where children are indentured and poorly disciplined it's an injustice to label and encourage teens to be something that cannot, or will not really be until at least 20.