When a boy is born he knows nothing of what is expected of him. He must look toward other males to realize his place in the world. A boy watches, learns, and study male role models for an idea of what it is to be a man.

Some men are piss poor examples of what it is to be a man. Some men are prime, shining examples of what a it means to be a good man. It’s not just other males that help a young boy find out who he is and how to be a man; What a young male experiences are a huge part of what will shape him into a man.

My grandfather once told me “… just because you’re a male, that doesn’t make you a man.” For a young man it’s what he goes through that makes him into a man. Certain milestones in a young man’s life will be the catalyst that help him mature, and eventually transform into a grown man.

Finishing school is only one of the first steps into manhood. Completing school is a big determining fact for how the rest of a young man’s life may go.

The relationships that you make in school will have a significant impact on how a man will deal with people in the future. The ability to complete something will show the world that you have the follow through needed in life. School might be intense at times, but it builds character.

Getting a job and having a source of income gives a young boy that freedom it takes to feel like a man.

Having the responsibilities that working a job requires shows maturity. Consistently going to work everyday is an example of what it is to be a man. If a young man can choose to work for themselves, it’s a clear sign he can take on the duties of being a man.

Having a relationship is a test of anyone’s merit of being an adult. We all say we want the girl. However, how you treat that special person in your life shows whether your a boy or a man. A lot of males or boys want to treat love and lust as a game. As a boy turns into a man he will see how serious relationships are, and their impact on their life and development.

Having children can really bring out the man in you. Caring for another life and dealing with the co-parent or bearer of life can be difficult. Most males, if they are still boys, they often run away once they hear the news that they will be a father.

A man should welcome the life that they helped create. Embrace the mother and child as their family. Treat them with love and compassion.

When problems happen, this is one of the biggest trials a man can face. It is critical to handle the unforeseen with dignity and grace.

As a man, it is vital to be a supportive force for his family so that they can all flourish and prosper. Being a man is not just about caring for oneself, but to also extend his care for his family and friends. Those guys you can count on when things go bad, those guy are considered “The Man.”

There are a lot of different kinds of men out in the world. One thing that unites us is that we all strive to be the best man we can be. Us men want to find ways to better ourselves and the people around us. Being a man is awesome but it’s not for everybody. Boys will be a boy, but it’s a man’s world.