As teenagers, we've all said it: "You don't get what it's like!" So I think it's time for someone to explain exactly what it is like to be a teenager these days. Don't get me wrong, I'm only 18, but people in my generation are growing up in a time that is growing to be so technologically advanced and is very based around materialistic things.
When I turned thirteen, I was excited to finally be included into that "teen" population. I felt like the title teen somehow gave me the ability to just know everything and take on the world by myself. Spoiler Alert: I really didn't know anything at all. I thought I was too smart for my parents and I knew exactly what was best for me. I think in the ages 13-16 that's all teens think; they have the power of the internet and they're constantly surrounded by people telling them "do this" "try that" "This is the coolest thing right now". So much of us is controlled by what everyone else is talking about and as teenagers in high school especially, we care a lot about popularity.
We think we can handle all the pressures that school and socializing throws at us, but sometimes we need a little guidance from our parents. Once you hit seventeen, it's suddenly the time to cram for college. People are focused on their grades and their tests and getting at least part of their future together, all while saying goodbye to the people they've known their whole lives, all while trying to figure out who they are. When you're seventeen, they really do get smart. They know the real responsible thing to do, and regardless if they do it, they know it. During that time you're seventeen, more important things begin to matter.
They don't care who went to the party or who smokes weed or who's dating who. Suddenly it's about the rest of their lives and figuring out who they want to be friends with, what kinds of people they want to surround themselves with, what kind's of things they like to do, the kind of person they want to be, and the values they hold most important to them. So much of our lives while in high school are controlled by mainstream media. What we hear, we repeat. What we see, we want to do. I have never heard very many teenagers talking about the presidential debate but I have heard a lot of teenagers talking about what Taylor Swift had to say about Kim Kardashian. We are being constantly bombarded with information and media and we have no idea what really matters yet because we're just in high school.
Taking things seriously doesn't seem like an option yet. And then college hits you and you feel like you're in the middle of a war zone and you have to start deciding for yourself what to do with your time and your school work and extra curricular's. It's really a lot of information and responsibilities just thrown at you, but parents be assured, we are trying out best. Being a teenager, we care about things like social media and parties and popularity and celebrities, and you can do your best to teach us about what really matters and we won't always listen, because we think we know what's best and you'll never understand. We have some growing up to do, but in the end, we'll get there, and it'll all be thanks to you.
