When did I realise that I had grown up? In the UK, I’m 24 years old this year and still considered a youth. I can still enjoy discounts on a railcard, and, perhaps most importantly, I’m allowed to make mistakes, with my occasional lapses often excused with, “Oh, she’s just young.”

To some extent, I can even afford to make a mess of my life. I used to believe that growing up would naturally resolve all my flaws, and that age would make up for my imperfections.

But what are the true markers of growing up?

When we exhibit childish behaviour, we’re often labelled as “immature.” Conversely, when children display behaviour that resembles that of adults, such as aggression or violence, it can be startling. In our subconscious, illegal behaviour is often associated with adults. Therefore, extreme cases of juvenile crime catch our attention. These children, who display adult-like violence and bloody actions, seem to transcend their youth and are perceived as “miniature adults” with similar characteristics to grown-ups.

More than 50 years ago, the Mary Bell case became a significant study for me, highlighting the complex intersection of childhood and adult-like behaviours.