7. Rumspringa
Rumspringa, or “running around,” is the Amish term for adolescence. During this period, teenagers are most likely to become more independent but also rebellious against the community rules, so they are treated more leniently. This way, adults ensure they won’t push the youths away.
When rumspringa ends, the youth is expected to decide whether they want to stay with the community or withdraw from it. If they choose to stay, they are baptized and then held to a much stricter behavioral standard. Adults who don’t comply with group rules are usually shunned. Most Amish youths who undergo this process choose to stay with the community.
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