Being a teenager is an exciting, confusing and sometimes frustrating thing. During this time, we become trapped in that awkward stage between childhood and adulthood, sometimes being pulled in both directions, unsure of where to go. For every up, there is a down, but for the most part, being a teenager is pretty sweet.
Sometimes, being half-kid and half-adult isn't such a bad thing. It's ironic how we rush growing up when we're young, but long for the playful innocence of childhood when we're older. Everett Oliver, high school senior, says, "The best part about being a teenager is being able to be a kid and adult at the same time." Oliver couldn't have put it better; even though we know that we'll have to face the responsibilities of ultimate adulthood eventually, we still cherish the advantage of being old enough to have certain freedoms and make certain decisions, but young enough to still have the ability to be carefree every once in a while.
Our teen years are also when we begin to wonder and figure out who we are and what we believe in. According to Sydney Burdin, high school socialite, "Being a teenager allows you to meet a lot of different people and discover who you are." We make connections with people who share our interests and really start to learn about ourselves. We take the time to dig deeper, and as a teenager, that can be very exciting.
Even though we sometimes look back, looking forward is something that all teenagers spend a good portion of their time doing. We realize our potential and understand that we have the rest of our lives to do something worth living for. This is definitely one of the best parts of being a teenager.
The independence of teenager-hood is something that all kids look forward to. The leash we were held on as kids may not be gone, but it is loosened. Faith Rucker, 17 year old teenager, says "the best part of being a teenager is having more freedom than you were allowed when you were younger." Although we may not be completely independent, it feels good knowing that we can do things that we once weren't allowed to do.
Certainly one of the best aspects of being a teenager is, simply, the experience of being a teenager. The new hurdles we face and the adventures we get to embark on make the entire ride worth it.
It's not always a sunny day in the land of teenagers, though. Where there is good, there is bad, and vice versa. Although being half kid, half grown-up has its perks, it can sometimes be frustrating and confusing. Jordan Davis, high school senior, says, "We are treated like kids but expected to act like adults." Being pulled in these two completely different directions is what makes teens want to set childhood behind them forever. But, it's just a part of growing up.
Being a teenager is something that we all go through differently, but surely learn a lot from. For some it's a dark time; for others, it's the time of their lives. Either way, there is both good and bad in teenager-hood, and it's surely something to remember.
