In the north of Indonesia, I visited a school that marks the beginning of adult life. It was a place of searching and identity-building, where students found themselves in a group of equals. It was a place of firsts, of first kisses and first fights, but also of firsts of a less romantic kind—firsts of responsibility, of learning to live with others, of pushing yourself and making mistakes.

As I watched the students, I couldn’t help but wonder what they were waiting for—what was the next step for them? Was it love, freedom, structure, or a combination of all three? As adults, we know that life isn’t so simple, that it doesn’t always provide us with the answers we’re looking for. But observing these students, I was reminded of how much simpler it seemed when we were children.

At this school, the students were learning to embrace the complexity of life, and were developing the skills they need to navigate it. But at the same time, they were still longing for the simplicity of childhood. As adults, it’s our job to help these students find the balance between these two worlds—to help them find their place in the world, but also to remember their childhood dreams.