I Love Teenagers

That's kind of a bold statement, isn't it?

Maybe it isn't love so much as an understanding though. They're not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. They're just misunderstood.

In my last days as a teenager, I feel the need to make this rant: It's not easy being teen.

Seriously, teenagers are probably the most looked down upon age group in society. It feels like EVERYONE is out to get you. Most people have this notion that because you're in that age group, you're automatically up to no good.

I've had friends stopped by the cops for doing nothing illegal. We're just an age group to harass as a 'preventative measure.' It seems like more than enough adults are ready to combat this menace to society. Sadly, most of us don't do anything about the crappy treatment. We just take it.

I recently dealt with some adults about a harassment situation. I played by the rules, went through the proper channels and presented my case the adult way. Their advice to me was to put up and shut up. Because I'm a teenager, I'm supposed to put up with discrimination and not say anything about it. I'm supposed to be naive and not realize that I'm being slighted. Really? I feel like if I was ten years older, people would take me seriously, and the advice would not be to shut up and take it.

Being one who is easily offended, I often took note of when adults treated my friends and I differently for being teens.

After band in high school, my hungry friends and I used to frequent local restaurants. I spent so many nights waiting a half an hour or more to be seated in an empty restaurant. To top it off, the manager had the nerve to threaten to throw my group out if we weren't quiet while in the waiting area. On more than one occassion, I was ready to have a throwdown with the manager. Seriously, if you sat us at a table and gave us some food, we'd keep quiet, and everyone would be happy. Is that so hard?

But again, I feel like if my friends and I were just ten years older, we'd be treated a bit differently.

Speaking of throwdowns, I actually did have one with a lady at church once. The woman had the gall to sit there and tell me that because I am a teenager, I obviously couldn't know as much as she did. My response: Oh no you didn't! I earned myself the brand of disobedient and rude teen that day for standing up for myself. But to be fair, the adult started it :-P

It's interesting to see the teen situation from the other side of the fence. I recently got a job for the holidays at a suburban mall. On every shift, I get to deal with my fair share of high school students. When I was in high school, I learned to tune out obnoxious girls, so I usually don't notice them approaching until my manager groans. Although I've never had a problem with any of the teenagers I've encountered at work, my manager and coworkers can usually find something negative to say about even the sweetest teenager that comes by. Why? Because they are teenagers.
When I come to their defense, my coworkers tell me I'm too nice and willing to put up with people. That's when I argue that I've been there, done that and bought that t-shirt. And now I'm gonna flaunt it.

Most adults who know me don't believe that I'm capable of being a 'typical' teenager. People believe I can't be moody or rowdy. It's the people who don't know me that are the problem. To them, I'm probably just a disrespectful person who will make a scene, create a mess and not leave a tip.

While I'll admit there's some bad eggs among us, don't let the bad ones spoil it for all of us. There's good in us. The groups of people I hung out with high school and those I continue to hang out with are great people. We'll leave generous tips, respond to you politely and sometimes even be more mature than the average adult.

We're people, just in a different packaging than those who are respected in society. Most of us probably wouldn't do anything an adult wouldn't do anyway.

The funny part is, any adult who looks down on a teenager was probably just as bad or worse than the poor soul he or she is scorning. I've heard stories from adults reminiscing about their wild high school and college days and wondered how they can scorn someone else for trying to have fun.

My theory is that these once fun-loving teens turned into hypocritical adults because they didn't care that they were mistreated as teens. That's the kind of stuff in life you just let go. If you're not being hauled off to jail, you shouldn't let a grouchy adult spoil your fun. Or, maybe most teens just don't notice that adult in the corner giving them the evil eye at all. Life IS more painless when you're brainless, after all.

I, for one, hope I won't turn into that.

So teens, know that people do love you. Have your fun, but be polite about it. Don't give them the chance to judge you.
If any of you are a cynic, like me, know that your consolation will be that you can do this to the next group of teens in a couple of years anyway.

Adults (if any of you read this), remember what it was like to be a teen. In most cases, there's no ill intentions. Let them have their fun. Or, maybe consider adopting the age-old addage, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!


P.S.- Thanks Kristy & Luis for motivating me to update :-)