Rumspringa
Once a teenager in the Amish community turns 14, the pressure is on. They are slowly introduced to the idea of living life outside of the Amish community and are even encouraged to spend time in the "modern" world. This custom is called Rumspringa, which roughly translates to "running around." Sometimes, the teens leave the community. More often than not, they stick to their roots.
What They Do During Rumspringa
Rumspringa can be a bit of a tricky time for an Amish teenager. Some teens choose to spend a week outside of their community before their new baptism, and others go big and head right into the nearest city. Sometimes, the teens don't return. They can even spend years away from the community, but sometimes they will come back.