Creative work, coming-of-age in college. At what point can we say we have grown up?

She started to show three months into our first semester sophomore year. It wasn't the first time I had seen someone my age turn before my eyes from a college student into a woman. The fine distinction between "adult" and "student" is one that is made often. When a prospective employer sees "student" as your main occupation on an application they immediately make one assumption- your main goal, your main focus, is your own success. …

…his life with his son. What I found out though is, it's not my responsibility to save the world. I learned to value my time as a "kid" or a "student" because being carefree is a privilege that can change any minute. It took me a long time to learn that I did not do anything wrong, but I feel like in watching them grow up too quickly, I learned to value my own youth.