Those of us who celebrated those magical birthdays between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one can all share our “coming of age” stories; the tales of how we defined ourselves as adults and independent of the care of our parents or guardians. The transition from adolescence to adulthood varies around the world. If you were like me and born in the United States, adulthood is recognized by the government once you turn eighteen. Although, in this culture, once you turned eighteen maybe your parents recognized that and sent you off to college or to go out into the world and find your way. In other parts of the world, different cultures and religions around the world set their own mark when they believe this metamorphosis takes place. This can be strongly influenced by parents, religion, or traditional ceremonies or rituals. I recently explored two coming-of-age stories by William Kamkwamba and James Baldwin. The first memoir I read, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind...", written by William Kamkwamba, tells the story of growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s in the country of Malawi, a small country in southeast Africa. Malawi is a place where luxuries and opportunities are scarce and where people still rely on magic or witchcraft. Kamkwamba's father, a corn and tobacco farmer, taught him from an early age the importance of providing for yourself and your family. Kamkwamba was close to his father, also a devout Christian, and always served as a source of guidance and inspiration for his entire family, which also consisted of Kamkwamba's mother and six sisters. In Malawi, agriculture is the primary means of survival and, as a man, it is customary for fathers to pass on agricultural practices t...... middle of paper ......ade into my life as well as how I see authority. I also, for no reason, felt resentful towards those who attempted to get close to me and play the role of a father figure. I feel like my transition to adulthood was more drawn out over time through various personal experiences rather than in one defining moment. Because of this, I found myself having a special relationship of compassion and understanding with these two texts as they gave me insight into what I think a fatherly relationship should be. Works Cited Kamkwamba, William and Bryan Mealer. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Print.Baldwin, James. "Notes of a Native Son." (1955): Rpt. In the presence of the writer: a pool of readings. 6th ed. Ed. McQuade, Donald and Robert Atwan. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2009. 33-49. Press.