Responsibility is something that increases with age. As children get older, they become more and more independent and less reliant on their parents. From speaking, to ordering at a restaurant, getting to school on time, time managing or choosing a college, everyone learns that we must do things on our own. Parents and society openly encourage teenagers to do things on their own all the time.

However, the restrictions put on teenagers when it comes time to make a decision or have complete control over something can make the idea that teenagers have increasing responsibilities a bit ironic, considering that sometimes teenagers are seen as “reckless” or “irresponsible.” Even though teenagers and young adults are encouraged to step forward on their own behalf, it seems as though there is always someone holding them back from taking that step.

It can be difficult for teenagers to mature and become more responsible when their parents have done everything for them in life. From ordering food for them in a restaurant or setting up their bank accounts, parents want nothing more than their kids to be happy. This can lead to difficulty when the parent has to loosen their grip. It can be hard for those parents to step aside and let their kids take the wheel since they are the ones who’ve raised and cared for their kids all of their lives. Yes, they still do, but they need to step back and realize that teenagers are capable of making decisions for themselves, only with a little guidance and support from their parents.

Knowing what’s best for their kids is a popular belief among all parents. Sometimes this may be true, but this is definitely not always the case. Making mistakes at a young age is a key part in learning how to make decisions and controlling their lives. It’s how people learn to better themselves and make the right decision next time. It is okay to let kids fail because failing is how we learn to succeed. Teens can do that on their own.

“Parents spend a lot of time preparing us to be responsible as we grow older but in the end, when that day arrives they aren’t ready to send us off; they still see us as little kids,” senior Olivia Wolf said.

There is a fine line between the big and small responsibilities in life. Big responsibilities such as choosing a college or a career path are ultimately up to teenagers at that point in their lives. Guidance and support can be great and parents should be there to provide suggestions, but not overly intrude when it is up to the individual’s preference. Parents should not place their influence when it comes to making the final decision and should support whatever their kid decides is best.

When it comes to the smaller responsibilities in life such as cleaning their room, doing everyday chores or making it to school on time, teenagers are known to drop the ball and disappoint. Since responsibility lacks for these small things, parents may hesitate with letting their kids make the bigger decisions. However, if the parent has provided appropriate guidance with small responsibilities, the bigger decisions should go hand-in-hand.

Almost everything in life is a decision, even if one can’t make the decision, they get looked down on. There is so much pressure put on kids to act like adults when there are so many people watching you make those decisions and pressuring you to make a decision. There are some cases in which a decision doesn’t need to be made that very second, and sometimes kids can’t because they are so unsure. Society has so much pressure on teenagers which in turn can lead to the wrong one.

So many teenagers are put under so much pressure when it comes to choosing a college and a career path. For some, the right choice may be to take a “gap year” from school and then choose. However, with this pressure, teenagers often choose a school and a major and then drop out because it wasn’t the right choice for them.

If teenagers are expected to have more and more responsibility as they get older, then the least we can do is suggest possible guidance or resources to help them along the way.