The scariest thing about Halloween this year won’t be the masks on the faces of young children, but the jump scare of seeing grown teenagers dressed up and ready for their bags to be filled with candy too.
Over the course of the last few years, the idea of whether or not teens should end their annual traditions as they approach adulthood has been questioned. Many think children should stop at the age of 12-13 while others have no issue with 18 and 19 year old's embracing their childhood on their doorstep every year.
“If you're 30 then obviously it’s a little weird, but now in high school? No, because you're still a kid, mentally and physically. I feel like you don't really grow up until your frontal lobe develops” junior Hailey Huerta said, believing that in high school there is no age limit.
Huerta sees that teens are simply wanting to rekindle their inner child through trick or treating or other popular trends like many on TikTok. Whether it’s dressing up as a goofy Lorax character or scaring others through masks, she believes, “everybody should embrace Halloween instead of thinking it's ‘weird.’”
Similarly, senior Aster Watson has witnessed the same trend of older kids wanting to relive their childhood, but the difference? Halloween has become one of those holidays that has been influenced by pop culture. Teens are drifting from scary masks and gory costumes, to now funny painted faces that make you unrecognizable, according to Watson. While it may be odd to see, Watson still enjoys seeing this fun change as long as costumes remain appropriate.
“There are smaller kids that are trying to enjoy Halloween, but it's really fun to see teens having such a good time on the night of Halloween because it's a specific day that is set aside for them to go out and have fun with their friends,” Watson said.
As this is their final year of high school, Watson believes their childhood has hit its end, but when they become the one handing out candy one day, they will not turn away from older kids cherishing their final years of childhood.
This year Watson will finish up one last trick or treating session on Vine Street with friends, and is encouraging others at PRHS to oppose the embarrassment that may come with dressing up and not live in fear of judgment.
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