QUOTE (LilaTheGreat @ May 28 2008, 11:09 PM)

EAT a Beaver and save a tree!
What the heck is a padawan?
"When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the Master."
"Only a master of evil, Darth."
―Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]
A Padawan, Padawan learner, or Jedi Apprentice in Basic, was a child, or in some cases an adult, who began serious training under a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Master, chosen by the Knight or Master him/herself from the ranks of the younglings.
Padawans followed and helped their Master everywhere, unless seen unfit by the master, from simple tasks to dangerous missions, so that they learned from experience and personal guidance. Padawans that belonged to species that grew hair on their heads typically grew a braid signifying their apprentice status, although there were a few exceptions among species, even some humans. When a Padawan passed the 'trials', he or she was elevated to knighthood, and their braid was cut off during the knighting ceremony. There was no fixed age when this happens: Padawans could even be adults, but for a Human, it usually occurred in the Padawan's early- or mid-twenties.
If a youngling was not chosen by any Jedi Knight to be their Padawan by 13 years of age, the youngling was placed into another, lesser role in the Jedi Service Corps—a tradition abandoned by Luke Skywalker when he created the New Jedi Order.
"Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan."
―Qui-Gon Jinn