Understanding teenagers
My group was asked to do a project on this topic , but I don't really know where to start. Since I am also in my teens, so I am also a teenager right ? Therefore, should I start understanding myself before getting to know, or trying to think of others ?
I suppose I should do so, since almost all teenagers behave in the same way at this stage of life where we all faces problems from all aspects of life, ranging from family, love, friends, financial to studies. How unfortunate for us, teenagers living in this era to cope with life when everyday, the world is changing and moving on in a face pace. We were left stranded in the middle, confused, not knowing what to do and where do we start, not to mention how. At such a tender age, our brain hasn't yet develop fully so we might think a little differently from the adults, but this doesn't seem a good enough excuse for the adults when they found out that we have done something wrong. We will be judge according to the society's standard of ethical conduct, which needless to say, are a set of rules and regulations agreed upon by ADULTS ....... How frustrating it is for us to try and think like an adult when in truth, we haven't the ability to do so ? Even then, we have tried so hard just to please all those giants in the society by being obedient, without considering much about our own feelings, however, in return all we get would be just another disapproval or discouraging comment. To teenagers, the longing for parental recognition is so intense that, they at times, are willing to do anything in the world so as to get a few words of praise. But it would be too much to asked for most of the time, and when they does praise, the world, in the eye of a teenager, seemed suddenly brightened with all sorts of colors, they can hear the birds chirping and the cow would jump over the moon( not literary though).
Setting that aside, there are still problems with friends where we wanted to belong to a group, to feel accepted because we don't like being isolated and odd out, getting that treatment would be the most traumatizing experience for all of us- teenagers. Due to the need to be in a group, teenagers would sometimes do crazy things, to the extent of violating the law, all because they wanted to be the in-group. That is when things would go awry;when they didn't think before they act, terrible consequences that proves fatal would result. Of course those attitudes are by all means terrible and not encouraged to be adopted by teenagers, but thinking back, I wonder where do they learn all those acts from ? It is very unlikely that terrible idea such as murder would just struck their mind without societal influences whatsoever.
Meanwhile, not all teenagers behaved badly, there are still a majority that knew how to conduct their behavior in an acceptable manner; they have a clear conscience and they behave well most of the time. That's because they knew their responsibilities well as a teenagers; they are the leaders of tomorrow, and they wouldn't ruin their future because of some silly decision that was made at the heat of the moment. Certainly, there are times when they will be a little rebellious, but that doesn't mean the they are very bad, when comparing to juvenile offenders. A little fights they put up with their parents is inevitable considering when they are at this age of confusion, and well .... Let's face it ! Even adults wouldn't just obey meekly to everything they were told to do, right ? So then, why do adults expect complete obedience from teenagers? If we were to obey hundred percent to what they say, then what's the use of giving us education ? Aren't education a means of aiding us to think and then react to situations according to our own perception ? Well sadly, for the most part of our society, parents still hold to the believe that children should be seen but not heard ... Bravo, see what has it lead us to - total frustration. Because of the building frustration, we gave up trying to communicate with our parents, but later on, we were blamed for NEVER trying to communicate with them.
In conclusion, we- teenagers more often then not get blamed for whatever that went wrong in this stage of our lives. This has been a rather tiring journey for us, striving hard to get recognition, love,and guidance. Sometimes, all we want is a little support form our parents and friends .... So please, be a little more UNDERSTANDING towards us - teenagers.