This post was originally published in 2015 · Jacob M Hansen

I don’t use Twitter.  Say what you will about it, but I’ve just never felt a compelling desire to set one up and spend a lot of time using it (or Snapchat or Pinterest).  I realize that my mindset isn’t super common among teenagers; or at least, people don’t expect it to be. 

I was surprised this week while attending a class I take at the local high school.  Our teacher was having us work in groups of four to examine a story, and one of our tasks was to compose a tweet about it.  I turned to my classmates, expecting them to pull out their phones. We just kind of stared at each other for a few seconds before the girl sitting across from me broke the silence: “Does anyone have a Twitter?”

We grinned and shook our heads.  She then surprised me, with “Wow.  We are such lame teenagers.”  She wasn’t joking either.  This girl believed herself when she implied that we were failing to live up to how society thinks teenagers should act.  

Frankly, I believe her too.  By having more important things to focus on than telling everyone everything on Twitter, we weren’t living up to society’s expectations.  Am I the only one who sees a problem with this?  Clearly, society doesn’t set the bar very high when looking at teenagers.  And that, is a terrible mistake. 

When this classmate of mine made her remark she touched upon an unquestioned, yet untrue belief that dominates society’s perception–a cultural myth.  This belief has shaped how teenagers are treated and expected to act. This belief is so ingrained into our culture that few people notice it, and fewer still question it.  But when this belief is put to the test, the illusion of its truth disintegrates to a reality of its falsehood. 

I call this societal belief the myth of an excusable teenagehood.  It has two elements:

1. Teenagers lack the desire and the ability to excel in life, and
2. Teenagers can afford to delay taking responsibility for their lives until adulthood. 

It’s Existence is Real

Rarely–if ever–will someone tell you (a teenager) that you’re stuck living in a period of unprioritized, hormone-based adolescence, but that it’s ok because you’ll have time to grow up later.  For the most part people will tell you that if you work hard “you can become anything you dream of”, and that you should “reach for the stars”.  

People say these things all the time, but they only believe themselves in the same way that they believe in physical fitness: prime health is a goal anyone could (and should) theoretically achieve, but that belief almost never translates into sufficient exercise and diet.  The truth of the principle is recognized by their mind, but not reflected by their actions. 

In our society, the rhetoric about “reaching for the stars” doesn’t practically influence how teenagers are treated.  It is the myth that has the real influence.

Instead of talking about a teenager’s potential, we talk about their problems.

Instead of telling teenagers to follow their interests, we tell them to get good grades in a system devoid of individualism.

Instead of exposing them to great ideas, we medicate them with Xbox.  

Instead of teaching them how to be influential, we teach them how to wait for the real-world to find them unprepared.  

Instead of praying that they will find the joy of acting virtuously, we pray that they just don’t screw-up too much.

This is the reality of living in a myth.  But as a teenager, I believe this myth to be only that–a myth.  Society’s belief about teenagehood is false, and the time has come to get rid of it. 

The Ability to Succeed 

Generally speaking, teenagers have three priceless circumstances working in their favor.  These circumstances allow teens to be wildly successful, should they chose to put in the effort:

• Independance without Responsibility – Will there ever be another time in your life when you can function similar to an adult, without having to make a living, care for your family/relatives, and pay taxes?  Not likely! Consequently, teenagers can take risks and focus their time and energy in a way that they can’t later in life.  

• High Energy and Resilience – Teens are naturally wired-up with hormones, strong physical bodies, and a drive for adventure.  If given the right direction, these elements will result in the power needed to reach success. 

• Time to Learn – Teens are still very young.  The lessons they learn will have many opportunities to influence the rest of their lives.  Failure is also manageable, because as long as they have the drive to dust themselves off and try again, it will remain temporary. 

I have a teenage neighbor who has done track and field throughout high school, and as we were talking the other day he casually mentioned that he can run a 4 minute and 28 second mile.  I kind of blanked-out for a second when he said that, because his time is only 45 seconds slower than the world record for all of humanity. What is even more awesome, is the fact that there plenty of teenagers around the world who have achieved similar success physically, mentally, and otherwise. 

Clearly, teens have the ability to excel at life.  If you dig through the myth-based mindsets that society has taught them, you’ll find that they also have an unquenchable desire.  I have yet to meet a teen who aspires to mediocrity.  

Why it Matters

Every tool can be used for both good or for bad.  The very same elements that allow teenagers to excel, if not deliberately used in the right way, will force them to fail.   The choices you make in your teenage years can either set you on a course of lifelong success, or put you in enough trouble that you have to play catch-up until you’re old and grey.  Some people treat the teenage years like a vacation from life, as if they can suddenly wake-up in their twenties with new skills and character, ready to make something of themselves in the world.  

These people have forgotten that when it comes to personal growth, there are no sudden changes.  The person you will be tomorrow is no different than the person you are when you go to bed tonight.  Today–now–is the only time you have to make wise choices and improve yourself.  

Teenagers should not procrastinate taking responsibility for themselves.  They should use their time and unique abilities to build a foundation for the rest of their lives. 

The Punchline

The myth of excusable teenagehood, by dedicating our expectations, has conditioned our culture in a negative way.  It condones–even promotes–the apathetic, life-wasting, misdirected, pleasure based actions of the stereotypical teenager.  But if teens act in any of these ways, it is because society expects them to.  

I am a teenager, and I believe that society’s expectations are wrong.  I believe that teenagehood is a time for us to excel in every way. Society must question their unquestioned belief, and learn to expect greatness from teenagers.  

The myth is a myth, so let’s treat it that way.