HIGH LIFE : What’s the Problem? Teen Worries Come in All Shapes, Sizes

You can’t begin to solve a problem until you can fully identify it, so in an effort to find out what’s troubling today’s teen-agers, this week’s Hot Topics asks: “What is the major worry/concern you face in your life?”

“What my future will be in the ministry and what God has in store for me, and whether or not I will do the right thing.”

Liz Trottman, 17, senior, Calvary Chapel

“What my career is going to be, what job I decide to choose.”

Brenda Marshell, 16, junior, Calvary Chapel

“Whether I should be a doctor.”

Rashell Bacon, 16, junior, Calvary Chapel

“School--grades, homework, future and college.”

Helen Crowe, 17, senior, Dana Hills

“The relationship with my boyfriend; however, it’s also the most rewarding.”

Julie Coonce, 17, senior, Dana Hills

“If I have clean underwear.”

Chris Oprison, 17, senior, Dana Hills

“Growing up and not staying young.”

Ed Seibold, 17, senior, Dana Hills

“Getting to a good school back East. Getting financial aid and scholarships.”

Suzy Sullivan, 17, senior, Dana Hills

“My biggest worry is that I won’t become successful after high school.”

Christopher Watkins, 16, senior, Edison

“That (my girlfriend) would break (up) with me, because I love her a lot!”

Mike Dubob, 17, senior, Edison

“The fear of life after high school: What my life will amount to. . . . Will I be successful or not?”

Cindy Wickenkamp, 17, senior, Edison

“I worry that I might not get married, and if I do, that I’ll get divorced. I also worry about what my children will have to face.”

Anne Ketchersid, 17, senior, Edison

“Breaking up with my boyfriend; he means the world to me and I love him so much!”

Lisa Guttione, 17, senior, Edison

“Where I’m going to be accepted at college.”

Susan Harris, 17, senior, Esperanza

“Doing well in the world championships for artistic roller skating. I have competed for nine years, and this is the most important competition because you are one of 24 members representing the United States.”

Tammy Vaughn, 17, senior, Esperanza

“Keeping my grades up to get into a good college.”

Jennifer Robinson, 16, junior, Esperanza

“Living the best life I can and being the best person I can be.”

Eric Billigmeier, 15, sophomore, Esperanza

“Whether or not I have time to do my homework when I get home from practice.”

Chris Weissman, 14, freshman, Esperanza

“The friends I choose to be around and how they affect my life.”

Laura Milbourn, 16, junior, Heritage

“A war happening before I have a chance to get married.”

Anna Gause, 16, junior, Heritage

“Where I am going to college.”

Marisa Zubas, 16, junior, Heritage

“Earthquakes happening during the night.”

Stephanie Willett, 16, junior, Heritage

“Getting good grades.”

Bobby Kurtz, 17, senior, Heritage

“Dying without really ever finding my niche.”

Tania Stevens, 17, senior, Foothill

“I worry about not finishing high school at this point.”

Courtney Charton, 14, freshman, Foothill

“Living my life as a little blade of grass--totally insignificant, never having anyone know if I live or die.”

Julie Hibbard, 17, senior, Foothill

“To be healthy and happy.”

Edie Mitchell, 16, junior, Foothill

“Someone who is very close to me to leave or to die.”

Stacy Taylor, 15, sophomore, Foothill

“If I don’t get a decent SAT score, which would be around 1,300, I won’t get into a good college and my entire life will be in shambles.”

Linda Lee, 16, senior, Kennedy

“Getting accepted by the right college.”

Lara Cummins, 17, senior, Kennedy

“The safety and possible separation of my family during a major earthquake.”

Keri Kabot, 17, senior, Loara

“The possibility of being condemned for my opinions, actions and style of dress. I am on a different wavelength than most, so I am subject to persecution. Ignorance is what I fear.”

Jason Capper, 17, senior, Loara

“Juggling my schoolwork and job so that I can be successful in both.”

Elizabeth Poon, 16, junior, Loara

“Nothing really bugs me, except waking up early for school.”

Tom Hsieh, 15, junior, Loara

“Trying to concentrate on school and school activities and just getting everything done on time.”

Jennifer Schubert, 15, junior, Loara

“Dying of a needless war, AIDS or a disastrous earthquake.”

Patricia Cano, 17, senior, Magnolia

“The depletion of the ozone layer.”

Jason Gill, 18, senior, Mater Dei

“World peace, and to survive Mater Dei.”

Tommy Evans, 15, freshman, Mater Dei

“My main concern at the present moment is for all countries to disband all nuclear weapons. The world is in danger.”

Keith Frankel, 15, freshman, Mater Dei

“Right now it is going surfing, getting something to eat and going to sleep.”

David Courtemarche, 17, and Brian Richmond, 17, seniors, Mater Dei

“Whether the Raiders will have another winless season, or whether or not I get on the ‘Wally George’ hot seat.”

Danny Trotter, 16, sophomore, Mater Dei

“Being happy with my life and future career.”

Linda Tesoriero, 17, senior, Orange

“That the L.A. Times will never publish ‘Bloom County’ in the comic section.”

Carl Schneebeck, 16, junior, Orange

“Figuring out what I’m going to do with my life.”

Scott Scheer, 16, junior, Orange

“Being blown up by nuclear weapons.”

Naomi Healey, 15, junior, Orange

“That Elvis is still alive.”

Jorge Rodriguez, 16, junior, Orange

“My greatest concern is the standards of colleges today and their prices.”

Quan Nguyen, 16, junior, Orange

“Academics--NHS, CSF, SAT, PSAT, APs, the Orange County Academic Decathlon, Kiwanis Bowl, grades, college; mostly, to sum it up, my life.”

Stan Kim, 17, junior, Orange

“My greatest concern is that humans will eradicate themselves from the face of the earth before they can achieve higher status on the evolutionary scale.”

Geoff McIntosh, 16, junior, Orange

“About my future--I don’t know what is in store for me in the future.”

Sheny Gutierrez, 15, sophomore, Orange

“Being a success in life because I’m afraid that if I don’t, I will be left out in the cold.”

Rebekah Shaw, 17, senior, Santa Ana

“Not having friends or anyone to talk to, because without anyone to talk to it’s scary; I’d have no one to tell my problems.”

Krystal Dunn, 16, senior, Santa Ana

“Doing well in school.”

Janis Humphrey, 15, sophomore, Santa Ana

“People who don’t take care of themselves--spiritually, physically and mentally.”

Laura Humphrey, 17, senior, Santa Ana

“College--I’m starting to worry about SATs, college applications, and most of all, about how much harder college will be than high school, and if I would be ready for the career world.”

Rana Habbal, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“Getting good grades.”

James Jo, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“Trying to succeed in school so I can get into a good college. Also, fitting everything I want to do into my high school years.”

Jolin Gemsch, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“Not having anyone in my old age to share my life with.”

Tami Oberman, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“Concern for my family. The well-being of my family comes over money, fun and even the threat of war. Without family, I have no true comforts. What I mean by family isn’t just mom, dad, aunt and uncle, but all the people close and caring of me.”

Greg Hughest, 16, junior, Trabuco Hills

“I guess I don’t really have a worry because I know if anything happens, God wants it that way.”

Shannon Shank, 15, sophomore, Tustin

“Survival is my biggest concern. Stress may get me sooner than I’d like.”

John Hlavac, 17, senior, Valencia

“School, because I have to do well.”

Yong Kim, 17, junior, Valencia

“Choosing a career.”

Galit Lopacin, 17, senior, Valencia

“Getting into a good college and succeeding.”

Christine Muro, 16, junior, Valencia

Next Week’s Hot Topic: What’s your favorite magazine and why?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Chris Bergerud, Joanna Brooks, Angela Conner, Michelle Crane, Cynthia Dewell, Tanya Diaz, John Doney, Stephanie Jeffers, Soojin Kang, Chi Mai, Monica Neal, Gabriel Saldivar, Jeff Santelli, Jana Swail and Tricia Wertner.