Maturity is best seen during the transition between college and high school. The fact that the choice is now in the hands of the individual student, each application is a willingness and a choice that branches out into endless possibilities. At this point, the pressure rests on the shoulders of the student to advance forward in their lives,  relinquished from the back of their caretakers,  this is an absolutely new responsibility for many students. This rests far after the applications have bent sent and the SAT scores have been settled, beginning college students begin to see numerous changes. Changes in motivation, changes in goals, changes in work ethics, and changes in attitude. No longer was the student forced to sit in a class, but desired to be there, shown through their willingness to shell out hundreds and even thousands of dollars. This isn’t a time to squander their opportunity, this was different than those times in high school. Teachers were radically different, and even more so their classmates. Professors are bound by the will of the student, and not their own. Each student has a voice in their class, whether passive or active, their grades rest within their own hands. Their efforts exemplify just that, and no fear of being reprimanded by a teacher comes at this stage in education, motivation rests with the willingness of the student.

Primary school up until as far as senior year of high school, I had problems with the system of education regarded as “traditional”. Sitting by in a classroom where many students didn’t understand the significance of their attendance, a forward goal of getting into a well esteemed college that seemed so far out of grasp, life during these years was complicated. Social obligations were forged, relationships ensued, decisions were made, all without realizing what impact they would have on my future. During high school I wasn’t as studious as I try to be now, high school seemed like a waiting room, or a ride on a plane. I was waiting to go onto the next part, get to the stages that all my life were leading up to. College was spoken about so much during my youth that even at the first mention of college during my junior year of high school made me cower in my seat. It was unreal having something this significant come so soon. Now that it has, I’ve accommodated rather well I suppose. Attend class, leave, attend class, leave. Day in and day out there was no obligation had to other students, there is no strive to be the most popular kid in school. All of that is far past irrelevant, this was the pinnacle of our educational careers. All that mattered was earning a grade for which you put forth the effort, it was fueled by the student. This new found responsibility is where students became mature.