Eryn Smith: Becoming the Next Generation of Adults

At what point do you become an adult? Everyone has a different answer to that question because I believe the process is different for everyone, but for me, I didn’t realize that I had shifted into adulthood until I was placed in a situation where I had to step up and be one.

As a member of the Honors college at Lander University, I’ve been lucky enough to have diverse experiences during my time in undergrad.

A large part of the Honors curriculum is designed to push us outside our comfort zone in an experience called the “Breakaway.” Traditionally, this looks something like a study abroad experience or an out-of-town internship. With the complication of COVID-19 however, my “breakaway” experience has looked very different. Instead of studying abroad as previously planned, I invested my time in my major department’s research, and into healthcare jobs that would aid my competitiveness for graduate school. It was recently in one of these jobs when I first become aware of being an adult.

I was working as a home health caregiver over one Christmas break. In this particular job, my role was to go to disabled patients’ homes and assist them with the activities of daily life they needed help with. I was informed about an individual’s situations and then would go to their homes to help. One night, I was scheduled to work an overnight shift with an elderly patient I had never seen before. After reading her details and what my responsibilities in the home were, I went over there. All was well until around 12:30 in the morning, when she woke up very confused.

Her chart didn’t mention that she had dementia, so when she became upset, I assumed it was because she didn’t recognize me. I was, after all, an entirely new person she had never met, in her home. I would probably be confused and upset too if I was in her shoes! I managed to calm her down, introducing myself and apologizing for scaring her.

She then insisted she wanted to get up and sit in her armchair. Again, nowhere in her chart was it recorded that she had dementia, but at this point I became suspicious. Dementia patients often “sundown,” or become confused and extremely disoriented at night. Nonetheless, I helped her stand and walk to her armchair.

Her chart also did not mention that she could not walk on her own. Though she was able to make it to her chair, this patient was so weak that she was unable to return to her bed. You’d think that’d be something they’d put in the chart, right?

Unfortunately, it was not. I had been given no warning of the extent of this patient’s handicaps, and since I thought she could walk back to her bed the way she came, I didn’t take additional precautions.

When the poor lady was finally ready to go back to be bed, she rose from her armchair and lost her balance almost immediately, and began to fall. I had been standing near her, thank goodness, and without even processing I found myself moving into action. I held her and fell with her to the ground, slowing the fall and protecting her head. I found myself going through the motions of taking her vitals, checking for injuries, and calling 911. Everything happened so fast, I didn’t even realize what had happened until after the paramedics had left and my patient was safely back in bed.

I had not been trained for a situation like that, nor had I EVER had to call 911 in my life before. I was shocked afterwards how quickly and effectively I was able to respond to the scary situation. That could have been way worse than it was if I had not slowed the fall, if she had been injured, if I had fallen to pieces on the spot. But none of that happened because I took control and handled the situation.

 It was at that point I began to realize I had become an adult capable of handling intense situations. It happened without me really noticing it until that scare, but then I noticed it more and more in my day-to-day life. 

As I’ve been reflecting on the events that have occurred over my four years at Lander, I’m realizing just how many of those that have shaped me into who I am today are related to the Honors College. The Honors College has put me out of my comfort zone many times. One of the biggest examples of this was our NYC trip freshman year. The program dropped gave each student a metro pass, enough money for food for a weekend, and dropped us off in NYC. That was the first time I had to handle myself in a big city on my own, and that trip taught me how to take responsibility in unknown environments. Since then, I’ve traveled alone and learned how to remain flexible and calm in unexpected situations. This has benefited me academically, professionally and in my personal life.

I’ve become a big believer in the idea that how you handle yourself in the “little things” is going to reflect in how you handle yourself in more important situations.  This proved to be accurate when the moment of truth came, I was prepared to act under the pressure.

However, through Lander University’s Honors College, I’ve been prepared for way more than uncomfortable situations. I’ve become more understanding of others through both the experiences and the classes, but I’ve also learned when to go with the flow and when to push against the grain of everyone else’s ideas when they aren’t always the best. Going with the majority’s consensus is not always right, and in many ways, the situations that Honors College has placed me have taught me that. Through the Honors College, I’ve been in situations that have taught me how to handle stress, discomfort, and unknown situations.  In doing so, it’s prepared me for adulthood and my future career.

Alongside adulthood comes responsibility, something I’m learning very quickly. It means not going with the majority when the majority is wrong. It also means taking responsibility for your actions and for the wellbeing of those around you.

My generation is quickly growing into the roles that our parents once held, as the workforce and leaders of our country. It’s our turn to be the “adults” and call the shots, and I hope that we are ready for it.

Eryn Smith is a graduating biology student at Lander University. Her plans are to pursue a career in medicine as a Physician Assistant after graduation. In her free time, Eryn enjoys reading, being outside, and spending time with loved ones.