It seems self-explanatory that at some point most people would stop believing in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and even the Tooth Fairy. You might look back and realize you never were counting down the days until you find out the truth about those childhood ideas, but they do tend to fizzle out of our lives, and we move on.  

However, with Halloween rounding the corner, it is common to see bags of Halloween-themed candy and costumes flood our stores and it is normal to see kids flocking the costume aisle counting down the days to eat candy with no limitation. But this sparks the question: what about the adults who are kids on the inside? 

For as long as I can remember I always looked forward to Halloween, not just for the costumes, the bobbing of apples, or pumpkin patches, but for the pounds of candy that I would forcefully fit in my pumpkin bucket and secretly eat in my bed.  

Looking back at those fun times, I do not remember the last time I was excited to go trick-or-treating, what I do remember though is being shamed for continuing to dress up and go door to door asking for candy just like my 6-year-old brother at the time.  

I was only 14, maybe it was too old for some but in my eyes, I was just having fun and enjoying the holiday, since then I have only ever walked with my brother to get his share of candy since being shamed. However, with my brother turning 14 later this month, I wonder if he will feel the same embarrassment and shame I felt seven years ago.  

Now that I am a full-time college student, I have played with the idea of what people would think of me going out and asking for candy. Would people criticize? Would I be vocally shamed? Who would give dirty looks? Am I the only one who misses the joys of being a kid?  

No one takes a second look at someone who obsesses over Marvel or the McDonald’s Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, but if I wear a costume and ask for candy, I am the one who cannot grow up.  

Since the pandemic took so much from so many, I would hope that many would have a change in heart and let people like me enjoy the little things, like begging for a fun-size Snickers. 

Fun has no age limit, so why does trick-or-treating have this hypothetical expiration date? No one should feel ashamed for wanting to have a break from the harsh reality of time. No one knows the trauma and troubles we have all been through, maybe the 23-year-old who rings your doorbell might have never been able to do so as a child due to an illness or maybe that 17-year-old just lost a loved one and wants to forget their troubles.  

Age is just a number and if you see me, a 21-year-old asking for candy, be nice and possibly even give me a king size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. 

Itzel Giron is the multimedia editor and can be reached at [email protected]; @by.itzel.giron on Instagram; @itzel_anahi_16 on Twitter.