Fired Up

Different

Going out, partying, underage drinking, smoking, I must be a teen right? You can stereotype us all you want, but unless you are one in today’s generation, you can never figure us out. I’m not your stereotypical teen and I do things differently, my way. I cannot say I haven’t done any of the things teens do now because that would be a lie, but I’m definitely smarter than most when it comes to trying “cool” things out. It wasn’t until a recent group lunch with my friends (which we recently started doing) made me think about this. So on our third and latest lunch date to sushi, I sat and looked around and thought about this. I thought about how I would never smoke, never do things that a lot of people at my school do. I guess it made me appreciate my friends. I’m not saying they are perfect, we are nowhere near, but I came to the realization that these are people I should keep around. As my own person I have my own insecurities; I’ll admit that I am self conscious of the way I look and sometimes think that what I do may not be “fitting in.” As teens we are extremely pressured and are constantly put into different situations that make it difficult for us to feel accepted. I have come a long way in my 18 years of life; I’ve been made fun of, brought down, but also brought back up. Family and friends are a core part of my life. Family has always been there, especially my older sister who I share a room with. I could call her my other best friend because she knows everything and anything about me. She knows how to make me laugh and when to back off when I get mad and also when to comfort me when I am sad. I have an incredible best friend that has been there for me so much over the years and I appreciate her so much for that. So I guess that this sushi date made me think how thankful I should be that even though I may not be your most “popular” person, I am my own individual and extremely happy at that. All of these things in life have only made me a stronger person. I may love to shop and gossip with my friends, but I also love to spend time with my family and plan my future goals. I’m prepared for what is to come and plan on enjoying the ride along the way.

By: Sara Cheek