Re: hmm....birthdays...

Clumsy9irl@aol.com
Tue, 09 Feb 1999 21:29:35 -0500 (EST) 

All this from one little question about being 16.  Well, One thing for sure is
that just because I am 16 and haven't necessarily experienced as much of the
world as some of you have doesn't mean that my persepective and opinions
aren't worthy.  Just because your view on life has changed, that doesn't mean
mine will, or won't..it's just your opinion.  Camille, I was amazed when I
read your post.  When I joined this list, I didn't think I would be belittled
or tossesd aside because of my age.  If anything, I thought this would be a
list of acceptance and sharing, and not making harsh judgements on one's
perspective.  Everyone's high school experience is not the same.  Yes, there
are similarities, just as there are in every aspect of life.  But my
experience is completely different from yours.  And my adulthood experiences
will be too, so maybe I will not come out as jaded, or maybe I will be more.
I will try, however, to remember my own experiences and attempt to see where
others are coming from before making such statements.  No, I'm not going to
lie, I know it will be harder later, but life right now isn't a piece of cake.
Just as a 5th grader believes that school is difficult, and making it throught
the year is an achievement, I believe that my life right now is difficult.  It
depends on age...as we get older, yes it gets harder, but also we grow and
learn in order to be ready for the increasing difficulty.  I certainly look
back on 5th grade now and see it as easy, but 5 years ago, I thought I would
barely make it.  Life is just a struggle, and at times I wish I was one of the
more innocent and naive.  However, I have been forced,through many numerous
things, to realize things about the world that others my age haven't yet, and
possibly won't ever.  I'm not the teenager that sits on the phone discussing
the current gossip of the week, nor am I the teenager that lives in a bad part
of town, without parents, or any of the such.  I do feel though, that my
individual experiences are just that.  And everything is harder out there for
someone, may it be living without food, or living with money, but parents who
just don't care.  It's all what we go through, and is a part of life.  My
opinions on my status are valid because I am living my life, and noone else
is.  Thanks for listening to my ranting...I've been in quite the mood all day,
and If I offend anyone, I'm sorry.  
~Meredith