According to the stereotypes, I am one of the most untrustworthy, irresponsible people on this planet. As soon as your age starts ending in –teen, your life suddenly changes and all people do is judge the way you live your life. I find these stereotypes very offensive and for the most part untrue. Most of the teenagers that I know all want to be successful with their life and get a good education. We care about our future more than we get credit for and we care about more than just ourselves. One of my favorite stereotypes to hear is that we are never sober.
All of these judgments are upsetting to her because it makes us look like we are all selfish idiots, which is not the case. I understand that there are some teenagers that do follow these stereotypes, but it’s unfair to categorize us all like that. When I first started my job at T. J. Maxx two years ago, there was not a day that passed that I did not feel judged for being a teenager. All of the older associates always questioned what I was doing and stared at me like a just committed the worst crime possible. They did not even give me a chance to prove to them that I know what I am doing and that I am actually pretty good at it.
My manager was the first adult there to notice how well I was doing at my job. I could not have been happier to finally get a chance to prove I take my job very seriously. This year, things have changed so much. I am finally respected for what I do and the raise I got a few months ago proves that. I am not going to sit here and tell you that I do not make stupid decisions and that I am honest one hundred percent of the time, but I don’t think anyone, no matter what age group they are in, could say those things.
Yes, there are times in my life that I do lie in order to stay out of trouble but I don’t think anybody could say that they have never told a lie. It is annoying to hear these things about us because if everybody does it, why is it only the teenagers that get called out for it? The most irritating stereotype that I hear is that we are irresponsible and only care about ourselves. This hits me like nails on a chalkboard. I am majoring in psychology, which is based on helping people. How can you call me selfish? Also, I care more about my education than anything else in my life.
If I didn’t, I would not be here. Going to college has always been one of my main goals throughout high school. It is disturbing to hear that teenagers only care about partying and unimportant things because that is not the case at all. There is nothing that I would rather be doing than getting my college degree right now and I know that many teenagers can relate to that statement. Another thing, my friends and I are so close. No matter what time of day it is, if one of us has a problem, we know we can always go to each other for help.
I care about my friends and family just as much as a fifty year old would and I know all of the teenagers that I know feel the same. I realize that a lot changes in our lives as a teenager and that these stereotypes are not meant to hurt us, they are meant to help us. It is hard for me to accept that though. If you want us to be successful, then why are you always putting us down? Why don’t you believe in anything we want to accomplish in our life? Why should we have to deal with these stereotypes that were given to us as a whole if none of them apply to me?
And finally, if these stereotypes are true, why am I wasting my time getting a good education and caring about others? Especially, if in the end, we do not get credit for what we accomplished. I do not want it to be a shock to people that I am doing good in school and that I actually care about my grades and my life. I want people to have more respect for teenagers and maybe they will have more respect for you. The most aggravating thing in the world to me is when I walk into a convenient store or some small store with my friends. If you are a teenager right now I am almost positive you know what I am going to say, and it drive me crazy.
As soon as you walk in the store, the owner of the store death stares you until the moment that you walk out of those doors. Some even follow you around the whole time. I feel completely violated and it is unfair that I cannot even be trusted to walk in a store with a group of friends without the owner thinking I am going to steal something or I am up to no good. Believe it or not, I came in this store to buy something and as soon as I find what I am looking for I plan on going up to the counter and paying for it; so you can stop acting like I am a monster now.
Being a teenager is hard enough; I don’t know why all of these negative stereotypes have too come with it. We are not monsters. We actually have feelings and respect for people that respect us. We care about our education and we want nothing more than to have a successful future. Although, there are exceptions to what I just said, for the most part teenagers are caring, respectful individuals who care about others and their education more than they get credit for.
