Growing Up
'Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were; you wonder what's to come.' This quote is from the 1980s American comedy series The Wonder Years. It sums up what being a teenager is all about.
Keywords
- curfew (n.)
- adolescence (n.)
- independence (n.)
- annoying (adj.)
- challenge (v.)
- cyberbullying (n.)
Adults Become Annoying …
Adolescence is all about finding your own way of doing things. It often leads to arguments and discussions about curfews, homework, and about whether your friends really are good for you. At this stage, the grown-ups at home may feel like a hindrance to everything you want to do or be, and most of your family time is spent arguing about everything and nothing.
Most teenagers yearn to develop a unique and independent identity. Though they love their parents, they do not simply want to follow in their footsteps. They often challenge them in any way they can, disobey their rules and criticise their 'old-fashioned' values.
… and Friends Mean Everything
At the same time as adults around you become more and more annoying, your friends become the most essential inspiration in your life. What they do and think really matters to you, and this may be difficult for grown-ups to accept. Having friends and valuing their opinions is an important step towards independence.
In the TV series The Wonder Years, the main character Kevin Arnold describes adolescence this way: 'If growing up is war, then the friends who grew up with you deserve a special respect. The ones who stuck by you shoulder to shoulder, in a time when nothing was certain, all life lay ahead, and every road led home.'
See You on Facebook!
Today's social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram make it easy to express yourself, keep in touch, and exchange pictures and opinions. It can be fun to scroll through the photos from the latest party or your friends' status updates. Many teenagers also use social media to collaborate on homework and group projects.
Despite parent-teen disagreements, it is important that parents or guardians watch over their children's activities on social media sites. Not all sites are healthy environments for adolescents. Potential problems could be cyberbullying, sexting and inappropriate content.
Let's Talk About Love
Growing up is also about sex and falling in love. Your body changes, and you start feeling attracted to others. This can all be very confusing and take up a lot of your time. As a teenager, you might try out being in a relationship. Maybe you'll get involved with a partner for quite a while. Or perhaps you'll fall in and out of love without any relationships to speak of.
It might be difficult to talk to grown-ups about sex, love and feelings, so this is where friends come in handy. However, it is a good idea to confide in someone you really trust when you are troubled or confused.