The transition from youthful adolescence to burgeoning adulthood can be an awkward and tumultuous experience. This process is further complicated by the fact that there is no distinct line separating these two main facets of life. Many consider traversing the plane into adulthood when they have “stolen the key,” so to speak from their parents; mother in particular.
This “taking of the key” represents a time of defiance and self-exploration, where the once timid and parent dependent child takes his first shaky, lonely steps out into the world. The child then shoulders the “weight of the world” and builds a façade of responsibility, strict moral/ethical code, and sheer, utter dullness that is the characteristic of the societal concept of adulthood. To put it simply, adults just do not know how to have fun; or, they have forgotten. It can be argued, however, that one does not need to abandon the reckless, carefree and fun-loving attitude of childhood; in exchange for the decidedly mundane qualities that seem to come along with maturity, adulthood, and ultimately, success.
It seems that success is intertwined with the “American Dream” of a house in the suburbs, white picket fence, 2.5 kids. It seems that being successful means rising with the sun every day to toil away for hours on end; coming home tired and burnt out only to fall asleep and do it all again the next day. This cycle repeats day after day for the better part of the natural adult life. Is this what our lives are meant to be?
Furthermore, what is the meaning of life? Why are we the seemingly only sentient beings in this world? What ultimate purpose must we fulfill in the eyes of our intelligent creator? These questions have no simple answers, or for that matter, they may have no answer at all. In the search to find meaning to our existence, we may discover that our lives ultimately are meaningless. As intelligent, sentient, self-aware entities, it is a tad difficult to accept the notion that we simply “exist”; that our omnipotent and omniscient puppet master is not manipulating the strings in one way or another, that there is no “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow. As such, we assign meaning to our individual lives.
The mantra, “Life is what you make it”, is intimately appropriate to this argument. Ultimately, all livings things must die, but by assigning meaning to our own lives dictates how we live between the beginning and the end. Some may use religion as their rock; it comforts them and allows them to feel like they “belong.” Others may assign an altruistic meaning to their existence; their sole purpose is to help their fellow traveler along the winding road of life.
In any event, as intelligent, sentient beings, while our intelligent designer may or may not be manipulating the strings, we ultimately decide on an individual basis the purpose for our existence.
As such, if we are the ones who decide what our lives should be like, why do we all decide to follow the same mundane path into adulthood? I would be perfectly content to lay on a deserted island with my guitar, a beautiful woman, and a glass of Cruzan Coconut and Cranberry. 
The life of sex, drugs, rock and roll is a life that I would have absolutely no trouble at all living. Yet I am on the verge of graduating with a degree in Air Traffic Management, only because society dictates that in order to be successful I must follow the “American Dream,” which brings with it years of servitude to institutions of higher learning. When all is said and done, many adults who have shirked their childhood qualities in exchange for the repetitive and humdrum qualities of adulthood, who have followed the “American Dream” and devoted years of their lives to societies’ mandates, end up being overworked, underpaid and utterly unhappy. 
Being that life is so short, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy it, the way a child enjoys his existence? For in the grand scheme of things, when life is coming to an end, what matters is not necessarily where you are, but how you got there. Of course, it cannot be all play and no work; but if work and play can be combined, then the magic can begin.
As such, I propose that it is not necessary to shed childhood essence, but that it can be managed, and balanced with the responsibility that is inherently a part of being an adult.