Being a Teenager

Katy Perry's song Teenage Dream has really struck a chord with me.You can still be young and under 30, but to be truly young, you must be a teenager. Juliet, Lolita, Ariel, Taylor Swift, and that childhood neighbor down the street. All of these young girls do not know they will probably look back on that time as the best of their lives. They believe that so much is ahead of them, and that so many dreams can be reached and questions answered. With knowledge comes a maturity that weighs one down. Just like our bodies, our minds change into something seemingly 'less pure.' True, 12 year olds are having sex right this very minute, but they are still innocent. They still know relatively nothing. They are in the nest, in the half-womb. Their skin new and health-ridden. Their hair shines and even their acne is a sign of their youthful condition. Who does not envy them? Who does not despise them? For most of them hate themselves. Oh, how I wish they would believe that they need to cherish and enjoy this rushed time-but it is not to be. Not a one will ever know what they had until it is too late. Looking back, the sun always seemed to be shining. Whatever the teenage state is in reality, in many minds it is the pinnacle of life, even though it occurs at the beginning. To some people (mostly men) teenagers are to be pitied because of their lack of knowledge and insecurity. Women just see the body and freedom that is lost. Could it be because we were never encouraged in anything but looks?