Coming Of Age

Coming of age is a universal experience, and it’s unique in the way that it doesn’t always happen at a particular age, but it always happens at a particular time period.

This time is usually when we start figuring out who we are and what we want in life—and It’s more than just hitting milestones—it’s about understanding ourselves through the various challenges life throws at us in those times, helping us make tailored choices that will then in turn influence our personal growth.

My background in media and communication has made me see the “coming of age” concept as an unending journey shaped by the stories we hear, the lessons we learn through connecting with others, and the type of connections we even make in the first place. All of these things influence our choices in one way or the other, and we have to make sure that at every point in time we’re making the right choices in order to stay on the path we'd like to achieve.

The coming of age phase is full of exploration and creativity. We test boundaries, explore passions, and in the end, our identity begins to take shape.

And It’s not just limited to personal growth, either—our relationships with family, friends, and the mentors we’re privileged to have play a huge role in determining our identity.

Coming of age is about becoming the person you’re meant to be, and when you look back on it, it's a journey that's both exciting and challenging.

Sadly, we don’t often give this stage the attention it deserves. We brush off young people’s struggles, thinking it’s just a phase, when in reality, this time shapes the adults they’ll become both to themselves and to the society.

It’s crucial to support them—to support us— whether through mentorship, conversations, or giving us space to learn and grow. Spaces like Uyo book club and other close knit community environmental activities are crucial in encouraging mentorship, creativity and knowledge.

We definitely can’t overlook how important this stage is, so let’s encourage all young people to explore, challenge, and discover themselves, so that a strong foundation for a future full of purpose and potential can be actualized.