Coming of age rituals of various sorts are fairly ubiquitous across human societies. I'm with you on not really sharing a personal need for them, but they matter to a lot of people for various reasons. My advice is just let them be proud of you, treat it as an interesting anthropological phenomenon, and keep living your life.

by Anonymous 2 months ago

I understand this sentiment. I think celebrating these things actually WOULD be a good thing if it weren't for the fact that like you said, they would judge you if you didn't do those things

by Anonymous 2 months ago

As someone who's said that to younger siblings and meant it was because I remember what getting through some of them was like (education for example) i had a horrible time in college and I'm genuinely proud that my brothers did it Most of it is recognition of difficulty, its hard getting through education, its hard making it through your teens, and your loved ones will be proud of that, its definitely not pity :)

by Erich02 2 months ago

You have a sad way of viewing the world. But I have to agree on some level. The pandemic and other excuses have pushed my graduation quite far from when it was supposed to happen. Instead of being proud that I am almost done, I feel ashamed that I was not able to do better.

by Party-Pin 2 months ago

Don't want to be pittied? Then do something good

by InfiniteOne2350 2 months ago