TEENAGE BEHAVIOR

-Jonathan E. Guadalupe-

Adolescent period is said to be the most unforgettable part of most of the people’s lives. During this time that significant charges in a human being took place. This is the transition from childhood to adulthood that brings so many exciting experiences in a teenager.

But despite the considerations that this is a milestone on a person’s life, most teenagers experience and display certain behaviors which are not acceptable to their parent’s of even the society. This made them the most misunderstood and questioned age bracket. Most of the concerns for teens are their friends, parents, peers, independence and their future. These simple pieces may later on lead to problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, going to wrong peers, teenage pregnancy and social pressures that affect the way they mature and behave.

The problem of a teenager starts when he or she experiences Identity Crisis. Because they are entering adulthood, they are trying to determine who and what would they be in the future. This results to being more self-conscious, hence; to give solution to the problem, they just try to blend with the society. Being conscious about their personality, most teenagers try to imitate their peers, even wrong peers. For them, they have to be bad just to be considered cool or “astig” by their “barkadas”. This time, friends became the focus of attention because peers give solution to their problems. Being with friends allows them to be simple and express who they are without pretending to be an intelligent or a mature person.

As these scenario goes on, here now comes the parents to correct and control their behavior. They are often scolded and commanded of what to do. They are living into a remote island with the rules of Do’s and Don’ts. But as what I have said, another big thing for teens is their quest for independence. They want to prove that they can stand on their feet alone and what they do is right no matter what it is. Parents, on the other side, became so much authoritarian that they somewhat give their child the feeling of being choked. Here now come the problems of rebellion.
Teens try to ignore their parents and follow their peers. At this point in time, more behavior arises. What is bad is good. It makes no difference. Moral values are nothing compared with the values of the majority. “Since most of my friends are drinking, then, I must drink too”. Innocent boys and girls before are now quite adults flirting in the bar. Immature relationship may occur and even cause teenage pregnancy. As these problems occur, together with the conflict with the parents may cause the teenagers to indulge into anti-depressants such as drugs and alcohol. These things are the remedy for their anxiety and depression. Being deeply wounded is the only thing that will make them back.

But this is the worst scenario in a teenage life. This could still be prevented with proper guidance from the older people. Parents must not be too much dictatorial to their children. They have to understand that thy have their own private life too and own goal and plans. On the other hand, they must not be too permissive for this will give their children the feeling of being unloved and alone. The right thing is to have balance and the key is proper communication. Parents should not be the best parent to their child but a best friend. They must be updated with the problems of their children wherein they would be the one who won’t judge and correct mistakes but the one who will guide, advice and explain options and consequences. This will give the teens, a chance of having independence on what path to choose. In the end, teens must always remember that with or without their parents, they are the one who is responsible to whatever they may be in the future.