Halloween is the time for haunted houses, fun costumes, and, best of all, trick-or-treating.

As children, we were more then excited to show off our brand new princess costume or ninja turtle mask to all of our classmates at school. We used to walk around a neighborhood that seemed to go on forever with our parents and maybe meet up with a friend or two along the way.

As we grow older, our costumes become more intricate and the time society tells us we have left for trick-or-treating diminishes.

The problem with growing older is the adults in our lives expect us to grow up and stop participating in the holiday as religiously as we did when we were younger.

The holiday allows participants to show their creative side and dress as crazy as they want, but what is stopping everyone else from joining in on the fun?

There is an unspoken rule in society that says teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to receive candy because they are too old, but how was the cut-off age determined and why?

I have heard people say, “If you want candy that badly, go out and buy your own.”

Being able to participate in Halloween is about more then getting candy. It is about keeping up a child-like spirit. It is about having fun when it is easy for the violence of the world to ruin anyone’s mood.

Also, we only have 18 years until we are considered adults. Once we are, there are responsibilities that we have, and less time to spend with friends.

While we are young, we try to spend our time wisely. Filling our schedules with fun activities and participating in everything we can.

This includes trick-or-treating.

So this year, when a teenager shows up all dressed up, asking for candy, please remember that they are just trying to stay young and enjoy themselves.