If there is one thing I wish I learned sooner in my undergraduate career, it would be that it is perfectly fine to embrace my childhood.
Ever since I started high school, I always had a deep-seated goal of becoming older and independent. I wanted to be seen as mature and no longer be treated like a child. I wanted to get rid of all the “cringy” and “childish” qualities associated with some parts of my childhood and grow up as quickly as possible.
I think a lot of rebellious high schoolers started to feel this sentiment once they stepped foot into the hallways of high school. For me, however, this “independent” mentality I harbored eventually followed me into my first four years of college.
As an undergraduate, I finally had my first taste of freedom and a glimpse into adulthood, minus all the bills and taxes. However, I soon realized all the glory held no weight if I continued to not embrace my childhood.
For the longest time, I always thought of adulthood as getting rid of all the kid-like qualities about yourself to be more mature and equating that maturity with adulthood. I think this overreliance on seeming mature also stemmed from the societal nature of manliness that surrounded a lot of my upbringing.
Regardless, I soon learned to start embracing my childhood more after I received my first birthday present from my mother during my freshman year. It was our first time away from one another, and my mother knew that my favorite dessert as a child was a cookie cake. So, my mother surprised me with a cookie cake that read “Happy Birthday” from the local Insomnia Cookies.
I was initially curious about why my mother gifted me such a dessert for my birthday since I had not eaten a cookie cake for six or seven years before that February day. Once I realized it was my mother fulfilling my childhood wishes, I quickly appreciated the gesture that she continues to do every year for my special day.
Time magazine describes the inner child as “a metaphorical part of (oneself) frozen in childhood, still clinging to the emotions, beliefs, and memories (one) had at the time.” It is moments like these that fill me with joy and fulfill that inner child within me.
Bringing back childhood memories and tastes I once possessed allowed me to welcome more of the childlike tendencies I once discarded back into my life. I wrote poetry centered around my childhood room and openly paraded the shows and movies I adored when I was young.
The fulfillment brought waves of nostalgia that felt naturalistic and inviting to my inner child. It also made me realize that embracing my childhood goals did not have to revolve around career achievement or financial success.
A lot of times when I hear the phrase “childhood goals,” it is often followed by someone talking about their career prospects. When I started to embrace other aspects of my childhood besides what would bring me the most success in my career, I learned that many of my “childhood goals” were just hobbies. Hobbies I can happily say have stuck with me since.
To make this long trip down the embracing of my childhood short, it is perfectly acceptable to include aspects of your childhood in your adult life. Maturity does not equal stripping away your childlike wonder, nor do you have to grow up as quickly as possible.
Instead, just know it is OK to embrace your childhood. Because in the end, your childhood is the one thing that will keep you the most unique.
Trey Barrett is a graduate student studying film at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Trey know by emailing him at tb222023@ohio.edu.
