So True

ADVISORY WARNING!! Parents to PhD-ing children may chose not to read the following blog.

A research group at Darthmouth University has established that the brain does not reach full maturity until the age of about 26. They were able to demonstrate that between the ages of 18 and the mid-twenties, the brain still undergoes some substantial changes in the regions responsible for the integration of emotion and cognition. The experiences you live through in those formative years, such as failed first relationships, time away at university, being broke, earning your first paycheque etc... play crucial roles in shaping your brain into its mature form.

So technically, dear mum&dad, the past few years of Sarah-wobblers were fully justified. They were not indicative of failed parenting skills on your behalf. Nor were they signs you've given birth to an emotionally challenged child. I was officially just being a regular wobbly twenty-something on her steep emotional learning curve.

*awkward cough* Question though... *nervously scrapes chin*

IF one's experiences in the early twenties actually shape and prep the brain for "maturity" by the age of 26... what is to become of the PhD-ing individual? Those of us who don't actually make it into the big wide world before maturity is reached? Shall we just start accepting the fact that I have missed the maturity deadline and will forever be stuck on Hollyoaks Sundays, hooded sweaters, twenty daily leisurely breaks on campus and overall very wobbly student-esque behavior??


- click on image for enlarged version -

PS: I do actually have more worthy blogstuff, but VERY little time to faff about, what with being a student and all so erm... bare with me. Proper blogging to be continued. Someday soon. Maybe when I finally graduate. Or not, if Darthmouth is right.