Letizio 1

Joe Letizio

Landmark College

Dr. Jenn McCollum

Essay 2

EN1021

5 October 2019

Oh The Places You’ll Go: What Is Childhood

In one’s life one may notice the changes which occur slowly and the changes

which happen rapidly. Despite if you like change or despise it one thing is for sure,

change is inevitable. In the short story “Saint Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves,”

By Karen Russell, the reader can clearly identify the challenges which come from

converting from a child into an adult. Several questions do in fact arise though if children

have a care-free attitude then why must we force them to change rapidly in a short

amount of time instead of them gradually changing and developing a clear message and

understanding about the world around them? Having a sense of meaning in this vast

changing world, especially when you know yourself can completely change the way you

view events in this world especially when you understand the values you hold close to

yourself.

In a similar light Russell touches upon the pressures of converting into what

society considers appropriate in today’s society and more importantly adults. Throughout

our life we experience new challenges and from them we take away a new understanding

based on what type of situation we come across. When I was a child life was different in

several ways, one example of how childhood is different to the way my life is now is
 Letizio 2

through understanding myself better and being able to identify what I value in life; trust,

respect and easy going people. I was always frustrated due to the fact that I knew little

about myself, and so for example school was very tough for me throughout my schooling

years I was always seen as the “weird” different kid. As I began to mature into the adult I

am now I realize that it was more based on my perception of things than the truth. It’s

quite amazing how fast things can change in your life. One quote that I live by is; “In five

years will this matter.” For most of the things which I come across the answer is usually

no. (Add from story)

There is no clear factor for determining when a person becomes an adult, some

say it’s when you turn eighteen while on the other hand others say it’s when you get your

driver’s license. Nonetheless one thing which is for sure is that in order to become an

adult you must be mature and ready to take on the world. Being an adult means achieving

a separate identity, being able to support yourself and or others if your married or have a

family. In the short story the girls had to go through various stages which simulated real

life…

…To be an adult you must become independent so that you will be provided the

opportunity to learn and take responsibility for your own life. We are able to see this in

the short story when…

…While it’s important to know who you are in order to be self-dependent, in the short

story the girls get ripped from the only world they know and this causes them to change

into what society considers their behavior.

 Letizio 3

Young people who enter the adult world with a strong understanding of who they

are and obtained a strong sense of self- developing in adolescence should have no

problem obtaining an emotional identity that is separate from their former family. We

identify this in the short story when…

In the story there is several decisions which are being made such as…, and these

decisions are very significant because these resemble the girls in a way to illustrate if

they are adults or are still in that frame of mind of a child.