For children, Halloween is one of the most anticipated nights of the year. Choosing a costume, selecting a trick-or-treating route and deciding with which friends to trick-or-treat are all part of the exciting annual ritual. The joy of trick-or-treating should not have to end when a child becomes a teenager. Halloween traditions in which one can dress up and be carefree serve as a break from a high schooler’s daily pressures. Additionally, not only is preparing Halloween costumes an excellent way for teenagers to express their creativity and individualism, but trick-or-treating also provides a safe outlet where teenagers are able to both have fun and stay out of harm’s way.

Teenagers can utilize the experience of dressing up and trick-or-treating as a way to revisit their youthfulness. Kids grow up too quickly, so they should be able to hold onto the tradition for a few more years. Trick-or-treating allows teenagers to forget about their stressful lives and to enjoy their youth.

“Halloween night takes away from the stress of growing up and becoming young adults and taking on a ton of responsibility,” said sophomore Chris Gillhaus.

Not only is Halloween a time for teens to revisit their youth, Halloween costumes can serve as an excellent opportunity for young adults to express their creativity. Significant thought and effort can go into selecting or even designing and creating a Halloween costume. Teenagers are able to use their imagination and creativity to design and create the costume.

While costumes provide an outlet for creativity, trick-or-treating also provides a safe Halloween environment for teens. Without the structure of trick-or-treating plans, teens are left with unorganized activities that can lead to unsafe behavior. Every year on Halloween there are numerous incidents of teenagers being injured through involvement in destructive activities, such as vandalism or disorderly conduct. Dressing up and participating in the tradition of trick-or-treating provides a positive and safe alternative for teenagers.

“Halloween brings out the child in everyone,” said sophomore Ashley Bennish.

No age limit should be placed on kids dressing up and having safe fun. Halloween is an excellent opportunity for stressed out teenagers to be creative while safely embracing their youth, and for teenagers to take a well-deserved break and re-live the stress-free lives they once had as children.