Society’s judgment of teenagers is not a newly emerging topic. Many adults remember the hardships thrust upon them by society during their adolescent years, however, the lives of teenagers today have, in some aspects, diverged greatly from the way things used to be. Currently, the most difficult part of being a teenager would have to be the heightened pressure by society to be flawless in school. Due to the rising standards and competition within school, many teenagers now are highly pressured by the expectations that society implements. My struggle with the issue of academic pressure has been very prevalent throughout adolescence. In school I put forth my best effort in everything that I do; I am constantly striving for scholastic achievement. However, the competition and pressure of today creates an environment that makes me feel as though I am sub par compared to the standards. Advanced placement classes, honor societies, standardized tests, and college acceptance are all continually drilled into my mind, and they further create the overwhelming sense of the need to be perfect. In reality, however, success is something so much more than these factors, and the ensuing pressure on teenagers today is absurd.

Positive aspects of life can often get lost in translation when the focus is on the negatives. Although I have had difficulties in my journey through adolescence, there is no reason to omit the benefits of life as a teenager, the best part of which, in my opinion, would have to be the increased open mindedness and acceptance when it comes to diverse ideas and people. Racism, sexism, and homophobia have all historically been challenges to justice, the practices of which were the norm for a very long time; however things have shifted. Older generations may stand unwavering in their outdated opinions, but I believe that my generation is combating these issues by welcoming differences instead of shaming them; times have changed, and most teens today have caught on. Equality for all people is an idea very important to me, and I do not think that anybody should live in fear of oppression due to the color of their skin, religious beliefs, gender identity, or sexual identity. Moreover, I believe that living in a generation of teenagers that have the capability to accept people rather than marginalize them is a remarkable aspect of life today.               

The world today is centered around technology. It has deviated entirely from what it once was and although it does have many positive aspects, technology in its many applications has become all that some children know these days. In contrast, I am a part of a generation that did not always have all of the technology available today. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a time when kids hung out and played with each other, rather than just sit on their iPads the whole time. From the time my brother gets home from school to the time he goes to sleep, he remains glued to his devices. That said, if I were to give advice to anyone younger than myself, I would definitely choose my brother. I believe that living life entirely on the internet hinders many aspects of development and growing up. Assuming he would listen, I would advise my little brother to try and distance himself from technology a bit, and attempt to live more of his life outside of a screen. Sitting in front of an iPad all day, my brother is missing out on many of the joys of adolescence and is not getting the same interactivity with other children I did as a child. He needs to get out and play, talk face-to-face with his friends, and gain a real childhood experience rather than a virtual one.