By Jada Lister

It’s the time of year when little ghouls and goblins are getting ready for the tradition of going door to door in search of candy and treats. What about the big ghouls and goblins though? Shouldn’t they get candy and treats too?

Many adults see Halloween as a children’s holiday, and those who believe this say that high schoolers can find other activities to do, such as going to parties or visiting haunted houses. Others allow teens to trick-or-treat at their houses, but instead of giving them candy like the younger children, they give them ice cubes or packets of ketchup. Certain towns in Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia have gone so far as to limit trick-or-treating to those aged 12 or younger. If children over the age of 12 are caught, they will receive a $100 fine. This goes hand-in-hand with the idea that some homeowners are frightened by “6-foot-tall” kids begging for candy. Though this is not necessarily a fair judgment, considering that sometimes kids are bigger than the norm.

According to senior Natasha Thies, “Once you’re old enough to buy alcohol you should probably stop trick-or-treating.” To me this is understandable. By this point you are old enough to be in college, have a job more than likely, and honestly shouldn’t be showing up at random people’s houses asking for candy.

In my mind, however, it doesn’t make sense to say that high schoolers shouldn’t trick-or-treat. Not every teenager gets invited to Halloween parties, and aside from going to a haunted house or handing out candy, there isn’t much else for teens in the way of Halloween activities. Elementary schoolers have class parties, school carnivals, and trick-or-treat street. Adults have costume parties and can take their own kids trick -or-treating.

Parents are always lamenting about teens growing up too fast, so why not let us have one night of innocent, child-like fun? If we’re being respectful and put in the effort to dress up, where is the harm? Not every teen who goes trick-or-treating is looking to teepee people’s houses or cause trouble. Some are just looking to spend time with their friends or family and have a good time dressing up and collecting candy.

One might think that a teenager trick-or-treating is immature, when it is actually the opposite. Any other day of the year a teen defying social norms would be considered more mature than their peers. Why shouldn’t this apply to Halloween as well?

High schoolers who want to go trick-or-treating should ignore these social norms that adults (and teenagers who are in a hurry to grow up) have constructed. I know this Halloween I will.