As we get older and older, we stop participating  in many activities we did when we were younger. An example is trick-or-treating, something high school students rarely participate in anymore.

Why is it socially unacceptable to trick-or-treat when you’re a teen? It may be because it’s considered lame,  or because walking alongside 7 to 8-year-olds in the street is awkward and socially degrading. It may also be because adults handing out candy at the door may feel less inclined to do so if teens showed up at their doorstep. I must admit, opening the door to a crowd of cute and bubbly princesses is much more gratifying than opening the door to a bunch of gangly teens.

In fact, according to NY Daily News, trick-or-treating for high school kids was banned in 2008 in Belleville, Ill., due to the discomfort from adults and senior citizens toward the idea of 6-foot tall kids showing up at their door.

While trick-or-treating may seem like a waste of time and “uncool,” many teens still find it enjoyable, which is why we should not be pressured to stop. What’s not to love about dressing up with your friends and scoring a ton of free candy? Teens should not be restrained from trick-or-treating due to their appearances and age. Likewise, adults should not turn away teenagers just because they seem too old to trick-or-treat.

As teens, however, we should also be mindful of our behavior so adults will be more willing to give us candy. Don’t be that kid who takes the whole bowl of candy when it clearly states to just take one. Be courteous when asking for candy, and always be aware of the small children looking up to you.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Rebecca Qin at [email protected].