An event that had a profound impact on me, and one that I believe also served to promote my maturity to adulthood, was one I have in common with millions of people across the United States. The recent devastating economic crisis changed my world so dramatically that I underwent change on the deepest socio/cognitive levels. I understand that “becoming an adult” cannot be attributed to one singular incident. Adulthood and maturity are complex and evolving intertwined realities. At the same time, and from powerful experience, I know that powerful experiences serve to transform an individual in ways we call maturation.
Prior to the recession, everything in my life was a platform for change. I was fortunate in the way in which I was raised, and I was afforded experiences and adventure that most children are not privileged to have. My family was deeply entrenched in the shipping business, and the family business was combined with a strong feeling for the adventure of the trade. My earliest memories are linked to the sea, to the ships, and to my family’s relationship with both. My grandfather was a skilled engineer, and my father ran the business; this was our fascinating world. I loved being out on the sea and was able to absorb all of the information about ships from both my grandfather and father. They gave me a complete understanding of the mechanics of it all- from the basics of engines to the larger concerns of renewable energy and commerce itself. I was privileged to sail the Mediterranean on our yacht where I was infused with information rendering each experience on or with the water even more meaningful. My course in life, so to speak, was set, and I embraced it.
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When the economic crisis brought on by the recession hit, the foundation of our family life crumbled. I witnessed the global impact of an economic collapse. As riots erupted in the streets, I helped people begging for food who, mere months before, had been thriving. The repercussions at home were just as devastating. We were evicted from our home and forced to find another on very short notice. In a cruel twist of irony, we had to sell our yacht in order to keep the business afloat. The financial burden tore at my parents’ marriage, and I was suddenly thrust into the roles of protector and mediator. My studies at school became victim to the crisis. Due to the constant strife at home, my stellar performance in the classroom rapidly deteriorated. As I imagine happens in these types of situations, growing up is not an option; it is a necessity for survival. It was the requirement to meet the painful and uncertain challenges of my world which had been turned inside out.
My emergence from this crisis into young adulthood provided me with benefits I value as dearly as I value my earliest childhood memories. I understood that in order to survive, personal achievement would be crucial, so I rededicated myself to my studies and to working at a part time job. In pragmatic terms, this gave me a greatly enhanced sense of time management; the goals were critical, but equally important was rationally moving toward them. As I steadily met and exceeded my goals, I believe I entered manhood. I drew on a newfound strength and understanding to confront the new vulnerability in my family.
By addressing my family’s financial crisis, I gained an appreciation for my family and for my own potentials and abilities. Life has become better for all of us, and our relationships are stronger. Even my parents, who are separated, enjoy a calmer, more stable relationship. My father guides me in pursuing university choices focusing on my love of naval engineering. These recent challenges have created in me a desire for more responsibilities once unimaginable. I have an insatiable desire to push myself in my studies and in my life. From misfortune has sprung my individual evolution, and I am eager to discover, engage in, and succeed in all that lies ahead.
