Transformations

Age does not make a man, neither does it change a boy into a man. Incidents do, people do. Your first job doesn't make you responsible, nor does graduation see to it that a boy grows out of his juvenileness. I think there are two ways to undergo this transformation. Firstly, when you are pushed into it due to situations beyond your control. When you are forced to give up your immaturity and shoulder responsibilities. Secondly, after living a carefree life, you suddenly feel that its time to get into situations and circumstances which demands your answerability.

How you chart your course in life is also very closely connected to this transformation. Even though I don't think there is a distinct definition of "being the man" and I doubt ritualistic "coming of age" actually helps in it in anyway. I think its has got to do more with a certain idea. An idea which makes a boy change his whole life around. An idea that is so concrete and fascinating that he starts focusing on it and how to achieve it in the best possible manner. I think it is this idea that does the trick and I doubt there is any fixed age or time, when it comes to you. There maybe a million people showing you the way to maturity but until and unless you decide, you never see the path. And the day you get the idea , the roads just keep clearing up on their own.