The Age of Responsibility Essay Example

(Eighner 108). As an adult, Eighner had to find a way to work and provide for himself in order to have food and a place to live. He didn't have someone to support or admonish him into working; he had to take responsibility for his own sustenance and housing.

Adults must learn to take care of their own responsibilities and tasks because any postponed responsibilities still require attention. Similarly, teenagers need experience and practice in handling adult responsibilities before they reach the age of maturity. The distribution of responsibilities is staggered to allow teenagers to practice and prepare themselves before taking on more tasks. This approach ensures that adolescents are ready for the additional workload. Many individuals take on new responsibilities without feeling fully prepared and later regret it. For instance, Shannon, a woman from Oklahoma, believed she was too young and inexperienced to begin driving at 16 years old (qtd. In “When Does Responsibility Begin?”).

It is more practical to set a general age of responsibility based on when most adolescents feel mature rather than administering individual maturity tests. Having a majority rule is easier to manage than conducting thousands of individual tests. Therefore, I believe there is no need to alter the ages of responsibility because society has already established expectations within a certain age range, and adolescents will strive to meet those expectations. Adults have limited freedoms in order to prioritize their needs over recreational activities. The staggered ages for responsibility allow for practice and experience, helping adolescents reduce the risks they pose to themselves and others. Consequently, responsibility is learned. I consider the chosen ages of responsibility appropriate, as they align with the

majority's anticipated level of maturity, despite varying rates of maturation.