Extending Adolescence?

I work with college students, young men and women between the ages of 18 and 23 (give or take). Traditionally, this was a group that had finished up adolescence, those weird years when a child grows into an adult physically, emotionally and socially. The college years have usually been seen as the tail-end of adolescence with the assumption that by the end of college these young people are now adults. But much evidence seems to indicate this is changing.

Tim Elmore writes about this and I highly recommend his blog post. Today's college students could be called the "Postponed Generation". Elmore writes, "Many adolescents delay growing up; they push the pause button on their assumption of responsibility. Several college deans have suggested to me: 26 is the new 18. I’m not suggesting they’re all bad kids or troubled kids or even stupid kids. They just don’t see the need to grow up. Life is working for them just fine, right now."

Do you see this in the young people you know?

Do you think this is a good or a bad thing? I tend to think its one of those changes that cultures tend to experience. Centuries ago boys were considered adults as early as 13 or 14, decades ago perhaps by 18 or 19. Things change.

At any rate, these are the students we have at CSF Berks. Learning more about how their generation thinks helps us shape our ministry more effectively.

Here is part two of Elmore's blog post.