I'm so tired of being treated like an alien-life form because i'm 17 years old. As soon as you're out of that stage of easy-to-read, cute adolescence; adults just don't get you anymore. I guess around 14, you become more complicated. Mostly because of High School. Since High School is complicated; you become complicated. You acquire all of these emotions you never even knew you had in you, and no one cares to understand you anymore. The other age groups begin to treat you differently, and in your head you're wondering "Why am I being treated like i'm a different person? I'm still me." You still feel like the same person, but on the outside you're giving off a different vibe.(Not like i've actually been able to test this theory, since I have yet to create the elixir which would allow me to switch bodies with an adult and see how I look to them.)
This is the age where "He/she is just a teenager" is the explanation for why i'm yelling, why i'm crying, or why i'm quiet. That's it. I am no longer treated like a normal human being. The questions "Are you okay?" or "How are you feeling?" don't exist anymore, because apparently all of my emotions are just the result of my age, so why should they be looked in to? Everyone thinks were such emotionally unstable, stand-offish, or immature. We can't relate to other humans anymore, because apparently we are of a different species.
It feels like adults just aren't making the effort anymore. Why can't someone just talk to me like i'm a living, breathing, emotional human being? Because I AM. It's like everyone thinks a normal conversation is too much to handle for us. Like we're just too unintelligent, or we just can't understand. I'm sure it is hard for some young adults, because no one makes the fucking effort to talk to them, so therefore they are terrible at talking to adults, and scar an adults opinion on the teenage population. It's a vicious cycle.
Teen angst is so common, because we continue to be angry, and the adults around us continue to pretend nothing is going on because they don't want to deal with it. They just don't want to make the effort, because they think "Well tomorrow it's going to be the same thing anyway, so it isn't worth it." The saddest part is, is that now we are expected to be angry, sad, disappointed, and confused. If we were happy, it would be surprising. Being a teenager is supposed to consist of a complicated and tumultuous cloud constantly surrounding us. It's just great.
I really like when an adult takes a genuine interest in me. I like being asked about the things I care about, and treated like they are important. I like when adults realize that just because i'm 17 years old, I have a lot more going on than my 5' 1" frame and skinny jeans let on.
hey girly! alison (fletch) here.
ReplyDeletei remember being seventeen very well. i relate to everything you said.
all i can really suggest is just to keep talking. offer your opinion. speak up when you feel like it. bounce ideas off your friends, family, and strangers when the opportunity rises. the only way to gain respect as a well-spoken, thoughtful individual is to show that you are one :)
in the meantime, keep writing. i love what you've got goin' on here.