It’s getting dark out, the last little bit of sun fading from the auburn leaves. You stand at the front door waiting for the signal of approval from your parents. Finally you leave your house, beginning the long trek from door to door, looking for one thing: candy. It’s Halloween night and the streets are crowded with small children in their colorful costumes. But something seems out place. Not only are their children on the streets, but teenagers as well. As they move from house to house you notice a trend, more and more people turn them away, saying they are too old and need to grow up.

Although some adults believe that there is an age limit on trick or treating I disagree. There are things much worse for teenagers to be doing on Halloween. I would much rather see them running around the neighborhood, instead of on the morning news for the mistakes that they can no longer take back. Teenagers are doing drugs and drinking, and our school even has a tradition of making senior skip day the day after Halloween to help them recover from the previous nights exploits. But if those students decided to have some wholesome fun, as opposed to breaking the law, then that would be better for everyone. Parents wouldn’t worry, police wouldn’t need to be prepared, and teenagers would be much safer. Part of the fun in Halloween is coming up with a cool costume, and nearly everyone likes candy, so instead of judging and refusing teenagers who trick or treat, I say that we motivate them to do it to help keep them out of trouble.

That being said, there are people who abuse this right. It becomes ridiculous when young adults are ringing your doorbell at 11 p.m. asking for you to give them candy. At that point you no longer have a responsibility to these people. But to those that show up at a reasonable hour, and who are kind and respectful, I say respect what they are doing, and be thankful that they aren’t doing something more dangerous.