One cold evening,my friends and i go to a shop to buy a drink for the party we'll be attending. I look back to the store manager staring at me and my friends with every step we take.This is nothing new.I walk through the store looking for more items i had to buy, with the man still gazing at me with his eyes blank. I approach the counter, gave $20 and left like any noble citizen would've done. My friends popped the Monster drink can open and started drinking, while i was still in the thoughts. And yet again, this was nothing new. The thoughts keep flowing like a mighty stream not knowing where the path will lead the water. What could have possibly happened in the earlier generations which led to that "man" to think that all teenagers are the same; we steal stuff. again, nothing new. Now I have heard it all, I know all the stereotypes my generation faces. Apparently, we are rebellious, lazy, egocentric, irresponsible, and totally focused on fashion, socializing and the internet (hehe, especially "social media, the MONSTER"). We spend more time at the mall then at home, and everyone drives a sports car and drives around with that loud bass sound you can hear for miles. Many of us have our own degree in spray painting and we are rude to the less fortunate. We give in to peer pressure and all want to look and dress alike. We rely on groups of friends and are cruel kids who disrespect authority and make fun of the less popular kids. Despite some of this being true, i still believe the vast majority of teenagers are upstanding and noble citizens.
Being a teenager in today's society is really not like Glee makes it ought to be. But have you ever been in a fight with your girlfriend, running on no sleep because your midterm paper is due and your entire future rides on what kind of mood your teacher is in? Plus you need money for your car and your fighting with your best friend because frankly, you kinda like drama. Meanwhile this whole time you have an enormous zit on your face? Now thats rough. Being a teenager in a society the generation before us created is hard enough, last thing we need is criticism from the same people who will rely on us to keep them alive one day. Sure, maybe most of the teens of today have their heads to far up in cyber space. Many of us are either on the phone, and if we're not on the phone we are texting or thinking about the phone. Most of us get a pretty bum rep from the adult and media alike who think our generation is full of a bunch of punks that are constantly up to no good. I don't know so many teenagers who have killed someone, or been arrested for fraud, or even stolen something worth more then a couple bucks. I'm not a bad person because i use LOL as a complete sentence. Granted, some teenagers do commit crimes and steal. But thats not a generation crime labeled on a certain age, that happens regardless of the number of birthdays you have had. All the problems we face as a generation were created by the ones before us. Adults try and explain how the youth of today are being over come by addictions, video games, cell phones, computers and "social media", meanwhile defending the adults who made it that way.
The problems teenagers face are nothing but stepping stones to a life full of disappointments. We all need to realize that the weaker you are as a teenager, the stronger you will be as an adult. We all go through drama, fights, rough times and heavy lapses in our lives that truly reveal our colours and show our true selves to the world right in front of us. At this age there will never be an un-meaningful moment. Because this world is something that is new to us and the problems we face are nothing but an unexplored adventure that eventually will lead into something positive. No matter what we may go through as a teen, time will fix everything and we will be left with the conclusion that this time of your life has no flaws. Everything you do, and everything you go through as a teen is so much greater than the goal at hand. All the drama that seems to bring you down now will one day benefit you when your ready to face the world and realize your true potential. Everyone of us, we're not perfect. But our experiences go very far in a life where only the strong survive. No matter how much you try there will always be somebody thinner, taller, blonder, prettier, tanner, stronger and have more instagram friends. The day you start dying is the day you stop believing you do not offer the world anything good. You were born and original so do not get sucked up in the media fire and die a copy. You learn so much as a teenager some of us do not realize until we are the ones in rocking chairs complaining about the youth. As much as most may not want to admit it, the teenage years are the most important of your life. You spend these years establishing who you are as a person and who you want to be in life so much to the point that these character traits often stick with you for the rest of your life.
This is for the close minded and the misunderstanding, this is for the store clerk who has a sign that reads " Only 3 Teenagers Allowed in at a time" Listen Close; Teenagers will always smoke. They will always drink, they will always have sex despite knowing nothing about it, and they will always rebel to the things that bother them the most. We are teenagers. We're not broken humans, we are normal everyday citizens trying to cope in the world you made for us. We having a burning desire to be different, but the truth is we are all alike in many ways. I personally rebel against the things that matter to me.I rebel for a lot of things; including my iPod, which matters to me a lot, but restricting your teenagers, will do no good to you neither your teen. Let your teen make his/her own identity in the real world out there; let your teen learn from his/hers own mistake without you restricting them, they're 13 now. they want to create their own identity,they will rebel more, if you get restrictions in between. Let them make their own choices and let them learn from their choices. they wont listen to you, believe me, i know well. I don't keep my mouth shut, and i'm not a "victim" of authority. I know i'm not the smartest kid out there, as like most teenagers i think i know more then i actually do. But somethings i know for sure. I don't deserve to have the swat team called on me every time i walk into a corner store, a texting plan does not define who i am as a person, and i know i will face bigger problems in life then that of algebra and high school drama. No matter what you do, there will always be somebody trying to bring you down. Forget that nursery rhythm, words can bring you down. It's up to you to try and rise back more successful then before. Point is, Being a teenager is hard, so enjoy today, but enjoy tomorrow even more because these days only come once in your life. Don't listen to the opinions of those who are lost in the ignorance of their own words. You are a teenager in the 21st century, it only gets harder from here. Might as well enjoy the ride while it lasts...
A teen from the 21st century,
Mahek,13
