In a less extreme way, this relates to growing up and leaving home. I know that when I leave home, I will grow as a person because there will be less boundaries and rules. Although living at home is not oppression, it is not totally free because the owner of the house sets the rules. In college and after, I will realize what I can really do - whether it is working long hours, finding a way to pay bills and be financially responsible. These are things that I will find out about myself later in life, because they are unnecessary while living with my parents.
http://www.psychology.com/articles/?p=3
This website tells how teenagers grow into adults when they are responsible for everything in their lives. Especially at college, students find themselves because they have more freedom. Although with freedom and responsibility can come stress. But learning to deal with stress is also part of finding out what one is capable of handling.
Although Malcolm's inability to find his true potential is life long and race related, while mine is for a short (and necessary) time and age related, they are surprisingly similar. One can only find oneself is they are free to grow and experience life.
The thing about that is, while everyone WANTS to be able to go off on their own and have their own rules, it's still a pretty scary idea, you know? Like, in the near future, we're going to have to be adults ourselves, and we think we know so much but when you really look at everything you have to do on you're own... it's scary.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree. You really do learn more about yourself when you start living for yourself, by your rules. Which makes it even scarier because maybe you don't want to find things out about yourself? But I guess it's beneficial and necessary in the end, and at least you'll be more grounded.