Being a Teenager

by Maja Majic (Croatia)

What to say about this crazy world of young people between thirteen and nineteen years old?
Age twelve has no teen in its number but being a teenager starts earlier today. All children want to be older, they want to stop their childhood as soon as possible, especially teenagers.
In my opinion, if adults would become teenagers again, they would be completely lost and disoriented. So many things have changed!

You are a teenage girl and you fall in love for the first time. You make tones of friends, school is sometimes so boring…That hasn't changed! It was the same with your mum and dad. Many generations before you wanted to look "cool". They only used different words to describe it. For girls, it was, and still is important to wear nice, fancy clothes, use make-up, do hair and nails in all possible crazy styles and colors because they want to be noticed, seen.

By whom? Now I can talk about real problems of teenage girls. Boys! They only stare at girls. That's why you try to look pretty. But many of those boys are often so rude, childlish and funny. I'm convinced that they think they are "cool" if they swear, smoke, drink or even use drugs and just „visit“ school. They don't study enough, get bad grades, argue with teachers…So many problems with them! I strongly believe they will understand sooner or later that their behaviour is stupid. When they grow up they won't have the knowledge for college or for work. So, girls, you are invited o help them!

Some girls can also become crazy at this age. When they meet a boy they like, they start to act strange, they become different person in a second, they talk totally differently. They do what they see on TV or read in the magazines and very often do it in a funny, clumsy, sometimes even in a dangerous way. I'm afraid it can't be changed. You have to go through this, you have to see and experience for yourselves what it's like.

There is one thing that can help you in this period of life - a sense of humour. If your boyfriend leaves you, don't cry! Try to laugh, organize a party, he is obviously stupid. To leave a girl like you!

If you get a bad mark at school don't forget to tell your parents that your teachers don't understand you. You are perfect! Always!
Teenagers laugh a lot - to funny and less funny things. Don't blame them, please. It helps them to survive.