High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Parents, Hormones, Peers Put the Pressure on Teens
What, no date for the prom? Dad won’t let you borrow the car? Your boss is making you work weekends? You have to share a bedroom with your little brother? Your best friend is talking behind your back?
Or does what’s troubling you run deeper than that?
Hot Topics wonders, “What’s the toughest thing about being a teen-ager today?”
“We haven’t been on this earth for two decades yet, and we’re expected to make decisions that will affect us for 40 to 50 years, and we’re supposed to change the world at the same time.”
Susan Hsueh, 17,
senior, Los Alamitos
“Always looking right and getting along with my parents.”
Amy Adams, 15,
freshman, Santa Margarita
“The pressure associated with trying to get a higher education. There are so many others yearning to get into a good college.”
Gustavo Saldivar Jr., 14,
freshman, Saddleback
“Getting up in the morning.”
Angela Rowen, 16,
junior, Loara
“The pressure the adult society puts on (us to be) successful in school and life. Many adults expect more than a youth may be capable of and don’t give prizes for minor accomplishments.”
Bill Koywara, 17,
junior, Bolsa Grande
“Stress from expectations.”
Julie Lewczyk, 16,
sophomore, Troy
“Schoolwork, because there’s so much of it and you never have time to enjoy the finer aspects of being a teen-ager.”
Camille Machtolff, 14,
freshman, Katella
“Being told to act like an adult, but being treated like a child.”
Charity Dailey, 17, senior,
Southern California Christian
“Girlfriends.”
Brian Harden, 15,
sophomore, Mission Viejo
“Earning money, because sometimes it’s hard to find a job. Sometimes people think you’re too young and irresponsible. And if you ask your parents (for money), they don’t think you’ll use it wisely.”
Long Luu, 14,
freshman, Saddleback
“That we have so many questions and we get no answers.”
Kevin Goodheart, 17,
senior, Los Alamitos
“Since I am such a manly stud, the toughest thing about being a teen-ager, at least in my case, is keeping all the women from throwing themselves at me.”
John Cavalieri, 15,
freshman, Santa Margarita
“Peer pressure from other teen-agers to do drugs and alcohol.”
Kristen Smith, 14,
freshman, Bolsa Grande
“People seem to think that there’s only one way to dress and act. You can’t be yourself without people thinking you are weird.”
Suzanna Evans, 18,
senior, Loara
“Dealing with your parents. . . . They don’t remember what it was like to be a kid.”
Brigit Burke, 15,
freshman, Katella
“Financial pressures.”
Alise Bissin, 17, senior,
Southern California Christian
“Stereotypes and falsehoods.”
Tom Bosworth, 17,
senior, Mission Viejo
“Growing up, because of many things--family problems, friends pressure you with drugs, smoking, all sorts of things. And the hardest part is saying no. But I think everyone can say no, if they try.”
Phuong Trinh, 15,
freshman, Bolsa Grande
“Uncontrollable hormones.”
Debbie Chun, 18,
senior, Los Alamitos
“Trying to understand ourselves and the people around us. There are so many changes taking place in our lives, it’s hard to deal with them.”
Adrienne Wade, 16,
junior, Loara
“Being good--around your parents, around your friends, at school. . . .”
Leo Jocson, 16,
sophomore, Troy
“Dealing with school. It’s tough trying to keep my grades up and have fun at the same time. It’s also hard trying to understand my teachers and peers at the same time.”
Carrie Carlson, 15,
freshman, Katella
“Everything is ironic. You fight for your independence, yet your parents ultimately control you. We rush to get a job and make money, knowing we’ll have to work for the rest of our lives. We have to apply and get into a college that will determine our future, when we’re just kids who want to have fun growing up.”
Nicole Herron, 18,
senior, Los Alamitos
“Pressure from your family, your friends and most of all yourself.”
Chris Kahau, 18, senior,
Southern California Christian
“Fitting in; no one likes to be made fun of, but for those who don’t want to be like everyone else, it seems inevitable.”
Thanh Nguyen, 16,
junior, Loara
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
What would be your ideal way to spend Grad Nite?
Responses gathered by Brandi Winemiller (Bolsa Grande), Amy Johnson (Katella), Nicole Williams (Loara), Jennifer Vineyard (Los Alamitos), Gavin Roy (Mission Viejo), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback), Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita), Stacey Kimsey (Southern California Christian) and Layne Mosler (Troy).
