Nothing beats those awkward, pubescent years as teenagers. A step up from elementary school, it was time to grow up and start experimenting in who we wanted to become as people. We may look back now and cringe at old pictures and memories, but they were all essential at that stage in our lives. Here's a few to look back on.
1. Going to the mall with your friends.
There just wasn't anything else like mall flare and the smell of MSG. Your parents or your friend's parents would come to pick you up at a set time and place because none of you could drive yet.
2. Shopping at Abercrombie or Hollister.
And needing a gas mask every time you went inside. It was "cool" to have a moose or a seagull on your shirt.
3. Or shopping at Hot Topic.
Because you were the original nonconformist who didn't care about dressing like everyone else.
4. Eating out at a pizzeria or fast food joint.
Since food was cheap and your parents never gave you more than $10 whenever you went out with friends.
5. Go to a middle school dance.
And dance awkwardly with all your friends to the "Cotton Eye Joe," all while staring at the cute guy or girl on the other side of the gym.
5. Spending hours trying to think of a cool AIM username.
Then realizing after you made it that you thought of something even better.
6. Changing in a locker room for the first time.
And trying to avoid making eye contact with everyone else around you.
7. Picking out a first day of school outfit.
Because you had to dress to impress, since you didn't know who got hot over the summer.
8. Trying to put makeup on well for the first time.
And then end up failing terribly because you didn't actually know how to put eyeliner on without poking your eyes.
9. Watching nonstop reality TV on the weekends.
You wanted nothing more than to be famous and have a life like stars on MTV shows.
10. Getting your first cell phone.
And having your parents tell you that you could only use it for emergencies, even though you ended up calling and texting your friends all the time late at night.
11. Going through an emo phase.
Because you thought no one understood you and that MCR and FOB sang out your feelings to a T.
12. Having a crush and thinking that you were absolutely in love.
And thinking if you should ask the person if they liked you back or not.
13. Having your first date in a movie theater.
And sweating nonstop after successfully holding his or her hand for the first time.
14. One strapping your backpack.
Because all the cool kids were doing it.
15. Or letting it sag as low as it could go.
Since only "nerds" wore them at a proper level.
16. Not doing your homework for the first time.
And sweating until you realized that the teacher wasn't going to check each person individually anyway.
17. Getting braces.
Counting down the days until they would eventually be taken off and you'd become a new person.
18. Hanging outside of a general store.
And eating all the candy there so your parents wouldn't find out what you spent all your money on with your friends.
19. Try out a new sport.
And then realizing how terrible you actually were and swearing that you'd never go back again to practice.
20. Finding your group of friends who you do absolutely everything with.
It just wouldn't be the same if someone was missing. You also all couldn't wait until you were finally high schoolers.
