Being a Teen

-school

-6,000 hours of homework

-getting into college

-picking a career

-getting a job

-sports teams

-depression

-gender identity

-sexuality

-relationships

-popularity

-drugs, sex, and alcohol

-peer pressure

-bullying

-family

-social anxiety

-trying to pass 8 classes

-graduation

-trying to fit in

-obnoxious teachers

-feeling powerless over things you literally have no control over (LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION)

-LGBT community

-”not trying hard enough”

-trying to get straight A’s

-eating disorders

-BEING A TEEN OHMYGOD

These are just a few, even though it is a very long list, of the challenges teens face every single day of their lives.  From school to homework to getting into college, etc. etc.  On top of all this, you have people (ADULTS MOSTLY) telling you that your problems aren't real, that the only thing you have to deal with is going to school and passing all your classes.  Well, those people are wrong and irritating.  Being a teen is difficult.  AND if you aren't a teen, then you have No RigHt To TeLL Us TeeNS that We “have it easy” beCause yOu Don'T knoW……..

MY CHALLENGES

-trying to get straight A’s

-trying to join a sport

-going to school and keeping it together cause Lord knows…whoo

-lol being a teen basically

Trying to get straight A’s is just one of the hardest parts of being a student.  8 classes, and 7 A’s is  good, but sometimes you kind of want to punch that C you have in AP World History in the throat.  Besides school, there is things at home that every teenager deals with, including me.  I try my best to be the best me, and really that is what keeps me going every day.  Gotta make myself proud.

Being a CTR person helps you overcome these challenges by knowing that you have done your part in this world.  IT helps you be at peace with yourself and it makes you feel good because your conscience is clean.  The thing about being a “CTR person” is that it satisfies you to know that you CHOSE to be that person, and you are better because of the choice.

I try to be a “nice” person to everyone because I know that everyone is going through something and no matter how big or small, people need to remember that a little bit of generosity makes a big difference.  The only way to help teenagers is to make them see that you understand what they’re going through and letting them know things get better.

Reflection: What is the greatest need that teens have?

HMM, maybe people to stop telling us we “have it easy” and people to try to understand what we are going through and finally accept that being a teenager is incredibly difficult.  Yup, that's our biggest need.