17 Year Olds in College
I had a conversation with my mom on Friday about one of my friends that went to college last summer and completely changed. She graduated as a junior, and was seventeen years old.
A few weeks ago I visited her Facebook page. She is completely different now. This Godly girl who went to ACU last fall now has her religious views set to “I’m not religious” and her relationship status set to “Engaged”.
Now she is not engaged. I don’t know what happened; I didn’t ask.
But she used to hang out with Alice and I a lot. We did church events together. We were best friends.
I think she was pregnant but I could be wrong. I suppose it is not my business.
But she used to be a partier. She used to drink. She used to be someone else, and now she is that someone again.
I believe that seventeen year olds are on a completely different maturity level than college students. College students are ready for life; they are mature. And many of the guys are not what the freshman girls would expect.
I don’t think seventeen year olds should go to college whilst they are seventeen. They are not yet adults.
If my future children graduate high school early and are not as mature as I hope they will be, I’ll have them take a year off. Heck, unless they have a scholarship requiring them to attend school the same year they graduate, they will be waiting until they are legally an adult to go to college.
I don’t want to have to worry about statutory rape, or anything of the such.
I know this is slightly harsh, but it is true. I know that when I was seventeen that I was mature, but I was not ready for what life held for me yet. I was still transitioning from being a kid and being an adult.
There are some people who were or are seventeen whilst attending college and did so successfully. This post is not toward them – it’s not an insult to them, either.
What do you think about seventeen year olds in college?
It fucking irritates the Hell out of me that so many of my friends said they would not let college change them from themselves, and then that happens. It is infuriating. I hate it.
One thing I have learned after graduation is this:
Everyone you meet growing up and/or in high school will change into someone either good or bad. You cannot change them – only they can change themselves if they want to do so. After graduation everyone will go their own separate ways, and chances of ever seeing them again will be a million to one, no matter the situation.
I saw the friend I talked about in this post today. She left church early. I prayed for her.
This entry was posted on July 18, 2010 and has 12 comments. was filed under the categories School.
I’m sure you’ll see your friends again ;D
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Well,that’s too bad.
Even if you don’t like the cartoon more than likely you wouldn’t like the movie anyway. =P It’s really bad. Even the acting is bad. When I was watching it I nearly fell asleep it was so boring (:
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Personally, I think that age isn’t a very good proxy for maturity, and setting the age of “adulthood” to 18 is largely an arbitrary legal decision. There are many immature 20-year-olds, and there are likewise many 16-year-olds who are very mature.
I also think that college SHOULD change you. College has changed my outlook on life and has challenged me to grow and mature in ways I never imagined. I was lucky enough to go to a school that really encouraged me to question my assumptions, and I feel that my college experience has taught me how to think and how to be inquisitive and how to interact with my world in an intelligent way. I don’t think you have to ready for life in order to go to college– I think college teaches you to be ready for life.
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Well, I can’t say I agree with most you said. I know it’s hard and sad when you see someone you really care about do a 180 degree turn. However, I don’t think a lot will change maturity wise from 17-18 which would make her a legal adult. Also, most college students don’t know what they want in life yet. Most aren’t ready for life themselves. I’m 24-years-old and I still can’t be certain where I’m going to end up in life and I’m definitely not ready for grown up world, but it’s something you can’t stop so I choose to embrace it.
Ashley recently posted Blinded by Technology
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Haha, when I was reading you comment I thought: “What the hell is she going on about?” But then I saw you did it by accident. Did you reply to someone else’s thinking they were me or something? xD
I think that’s probably true. And I probably should know better but seems to know exactly what buttons to push to piss me off. It makes it hard to pretend I don’t care. :/
It’s a difficult subject for me this one. Partly because like you say, sometimes change can be good. But the majority of the time it’s the opposite. And partly because colleges here in the UK are completely different to what they are where you are. I only know the stereotypical version I see on T.V.
From what I know, a lot of it IS drinking and partying, so 17 does seem like a young age to go. However, I also think it’s just a phase and that she’ll grow out of it eventually. Everything will be fine in the end, I’m sure of it.
Pam recently posted I don’t want to be you
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People do change when they go to college, not sure why myself. I, on the other hand, stayed the same. I cannot be someone I am not. In high school, I never got into the anything I couldn’t handle. I was anti smoking, anti drugs and I have been this way my whole life. I doubt I will be stopping now
Your friend sounds like she is in the middle of an identity crisis, not sure which way to turn.
I didn’t study again till in my 20′s. Took a LONG break and travelled and worked. Best thing I could have done really.
I agree with you that fake smiling could very well be classed as lieing :-)
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I was 17 years old when I went to university. I don’t know if people saw me as immature, but I’m a kid at heart anyway. I was pretty innocent and naive overall. I never drunk or partied, my parents were really strict on me until that age, and I was really dependent on them. 17 is the average age to leave high school here. Some people are 18 or 19, but usually not older or younger. Unless you’re a prodigy or something.
It’s funny how people change. If anything, university (eh, we don’t have college here) changed me and made me look into the big world with big eyes. It made me more mature in a way.
RE:
Eeeep, yuckers. I have some family friends who are related a long way in the family tree but they’re still related. It would be awkward and WEIRD to even date one of them. I love them, but platonically, of course. (=
Georgina recently posted Count me in
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I’m going to graduate at age 17. At least, I think I am. When I was in elementary school, I skipped 2nd grade. I had home schooled the majority of my life. When my mom went to enroll me at a school, I took placement tests and they just put me in 3rd grade instead of second.
I’m sorry about your friend. I know how hard that is. I think that maturity differs based on strength of character, and how a person was raised. I completely understand how you feel about your friend’s age when entering college and the choices she made once she got there. If my friend were to graduate at 17, I’m sure she would make the same mistakes, if not worse.
My friend freaked out last night and was talking suicidal. She’s in eighth grade. She definitely should not be going to college at age 17. I hope your friend realizes her mistakes and starts to take the better path. Your prayers won’t go unanswered
It’s 6:42pm
You must watch Pride & Prejudice. Not the old one that is around seven hours long, but the new one with Keira Knightley in it. Also, you should watch Sense & Sensibility. It is wonderful as well
I have no idea what city. We rarely talk, and when we do, she practically uses me as her therapist. I know that sounds weird but it’s true.
What domain do you have in mind? It sounds like it’ll be pretty great
If you have trouble finding someone, let me know. I might be willing to help out if you want me to.
I have a horrible attention span as well! Although, I’ve gotten better at multitasking. Right now, I’m watching a movie xD
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Just because you were mature enough to finish high school early doesn’t mean you are ready for college.
It’s so amazing how when you grow up how different people may be. The person who set up my mom and my dad was in jail. It’s so interesting how people may change.
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Haha I had to tie my memory box up with ribbon because it was getting full too.
I have lots of wrappers, notes, other nic nacs. :P
I see what you mean. I got the impression you were sort of making a generalisation when you were talking about seventeen year olds, but I know obviously you didn’t mean every single one. It all depends on the person but some people are just more mature than others.
Try not to get snappy at her. Zen! Ignore it, or reiterate your point calmly. Take the high road. If she needs to be told more than twice, forget it. Some people aren’t worth dealing with anyway. :P
Georgina recently posted Love and Other Bruises
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NOT replying to comments because I CAN’T update because of a server MOVE. >:|
Liz recently posted 17 Year Olds in College
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I find this is often the case when kids go off to College. Honestly I never really understood it but it’s not my scene. I didn’t view college as “Now it’s time to party!” it was “Now it’s time to further my education.”
Crazy how much people change after high school. o.o
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