MATURITY

Have you ever met someone who was an adult but act like a kid? Or a kid who

act like an adult? There are some people like that in the world. People who is an adult

but act like a kid is called “just getting older”. It is different with people who are

growing up physically and mentally based on their age. They are called “growing up”.

The difference between them is a psychological ability to respond circumstances with

an appropriate manner, called maturity.

The respond what I mean is how to behave with being aware of the time and

place correctly. Here is the example. Joko is a college student in Jakarta. He is 21

years old. One day, his girlfriend was sick and being hospitalized. Joko wanted to

visit her. He came to the hospital at 10 p.m with his friends. They chatted and laughed

noisily all the way to the room where the girlfriend was, so that was disturbing other

patients who wanted to rest. According to this, Joko and his friend’s behavior shows

an immaturity, because they behave without being aware of the time and place

correctly. They came to the hospital at a wrong time, and they chatted and laughed

noisily at a wrong place. They should come to the hospital at visiting hours which is

set by the hospital. And of course they should care for the other patients who need a

peace to relax. So, they would keep silent as long as they were in the hospital. That is

a mature action.

According to the example above, we can conclude that a maturity is not

regulated by the calendar. Although Joko was 21, he behaved like an 11 years old kid.

It means that a kid is enables to behave like mature adults. Maturity is about self

awareness. Maturity is about concern for others around us. Maturity is about knowing

how to act appropriately, according to the situation.

Daffa Gifary