It's scientifically proven that people who are 16, are more mature than those 13 or younger. Sure, their actions may be different, but the bottom line is if they want to help, they can handle the position better than those younger then them, and they also can be calm and collected under some form of pressure where those younger may not.
Like RC said, I cannot find this true.
Honestly, it just depends on simply, how mature you actually are. Another example of this is an experience I had.
As some of you may know, I skipped Grade 5 on my teacher's request (not trying to sound stuck up or anything). The principal said I was definitely learning fast enough and knew about things well beyond my years, but she questioned my maturity. I never did anything wrong, but could I deal with the pressure? My parents had faith in me and assured the principal I would be fine. She (the principal of the school) was worried about me going to high school and coping with everything because I was small and a little shy, but went ahead with allowing me to skip grade 5. A lot of the kids were two years older than me, so it was daunting for me but I decided to do it.
That year, I managed to;
Become House Captain and SRC President
Get Straight As in both semesters.
Organise the Market Day stalls for my grade (60 kids)
Get my idea picked for the Australian National Museum's replacement of K-Space
Get the top shifts at the school canteen (which meant more free food... Nomnomnomnom)
Get Active Member on the MCSG forums (hurhurhur)
Win the Australia National Schools Teams Championship in the Girls Primary Division as Captain of my team.
Coordinate the Yearbook 2013
Edit: I realise this is more achievement and organisational wise stuff, so I also want to open up about things maturity wise-
I was often pressured by my parents and peers to do well after things like these happened. If I got a B I had essentially failed both my parents and teachers - well that's what it felt like. I also had to deal with violin exams, picking high schools, creating music, dealing with my little sister who did not understand how hard things were for my family at the time and bullied me into things a lot and supporting my dad while my mum worked 7:30am-7pm everyday except Sunday for 6 months (that is a lot for a chiropractor). This doesn't sound like much to you, probably, but it seemed like a heck of a lot to me.
I knew my parents wanted the best for me and my mum had a crazy situation at work, so I just tried to please them and help them out. It kinda got to a point I started crying at night and just randomly breaking down during the day. I call this my 'down in the dumps' part of my life (because depression sounds stupid, what am I, 12?). I always thought, 'Why am I sad? Live is good!' It got progressively worse and I just tried to be happy at school and with my parents. It was hard but I realised something-
Whenever something bad, even if it's little, it teaches you a lesson. It makes you emotionally stronger and gives you courage to move on.
The older kids in Year 8 and 9 at my school, you could tell they were going through the same thing, but they were cutting and obviously their situation was a lot worse than mine. Some were doing it for attention and others were just keeping quiet about it. They just didn't realise the lessons in the situation.
So, what I'm trying to say is it's about who you are. You learn lessons everyday without realising, but will you apply what you've learnt to yourself? Of course, most 16 year olds are more mature than 13 year olds because they've had more time to learn lessons about life and become more mature, but it's about whether they are the type of person to apply that knowledge to themselves. This shapes their maturity.
Another example is duckluv321. She was the creator of many helpful guides, and EARNED an age exception. Her application was 2000 or so words long, she helped out and stayed calm while being a moderator and dealt with things a lot better than a lot of the 15 and 16 year old mods.
It is not possible that all 16 year olds are more mature than 13 year olds, I mean, most of them probably are but there are lots of immature 16 year olds I know, and a lot of very mature 13 year olds I know.
Although I agree, people like you are kind of rare. Most young people cannot deal with the organisation skills required to be a successful mod.
I am under the age limit, but won't be for much longer, and will apply then.
And that's why we have few age exceptions.
Boom.
