It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. – e. e. cummings
Growing up is hard work. We always think kids have it so easy. I mean really, all they have to do every day is play or go to school, right? Wrong – 
at least to me. I think being a kid is the hardest, most challenging thing we ever do. As children, we have to live up to the expectations of our parents. We are pressured to do well in school and pressured by our peers to conform to the perceived norms of society. As we grow, we struggle to find our place within our peer groups, make decisions about academic and career choices that have the potential to impact the rest of our lives. On top of that, we have to deal with hormonal changes in our body and the discovery of “the other sex.” Kids are pushed and pulled and shaped and molded from moment of birth. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and hard work to grow up to be the adults that we are. Congratulate yourself on a job well done if you are an adult, and if you are a child or teen, stay true to yourself!
