We Need To Start Treating Teenagers With Respect | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

We Need To Start Treating Teenagers With Respect

Guys, teenagers are people, too.

49
We Need To Start Treating Teenagers With Respect
Taylor Plate

Ah, teenage-dom. As a second-semester college freshman, I have about 4 months of being a teenager left. These last 10 years have been some of the most challenging, most formative years of my life. Like many of my peers, I have felt the stigma of being a "darn teenager."

It doesn't bother me to be reprimanded when I screw up; it does bother me when I get reprimanded for messing up as a teenager. It's usually all fun and games. As a teenager who doesn't necessarily partake in the usual activities many people my age do, this isn't an issue all the time for me. But, when it is, it's quite ridiculous.

In high school, I was an honors student. I played four years of varsity sports, never had a drop of alcohol, and didn't even go on a date until I was 17. Still, when I went to the office to talk to the secretary I found that she treated me with the same attitude she treated every student. It was as if I was sub-human. In high school, adults aren't willing to help you (generally, some teachers rock.) They are willing to assume that every kid is up to no good and only in it for themselves,

It's because of this that I walked into college not believing that my professors would want to help me. It took me two semesters of college to realize 1) I'm going to be treated with the respect level that adults receive 2) Being treated like an adult (in some respects) is amazing.

My professors want to help me get internships or jobs, write me recommendation letters, and make sure that I'm getting the most possible out of my education. I have never felt the love and support that I've felt in college, and it's honestly just glorious.

The other people who really should know better are our parents. Obviously, at one point they were teenagers themselves, but they also know us better than the majority of other people on the Earth. It is for these reasons I don't understand why parents act like they just don't get what it's like to be a teenager. Do they not remember what it felt like to be 15? Or 19?

Life can be hard, no matter what age you are. Also, no matter how old you get, there are going to be good people and bad people. There are going to be people who are deceitful and smarmy and people who are upfront and trustworthy. These rules apply to teenagers, too.

We're just people, and as my teenage years come to an end, I urge adults to remember this. Teenagers need your love and your support. They need your acceptance. They don't need you to let them off easy or skimp out on discipline when it's deserved. They just need to be treated like actual human beings.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

5001
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

3044
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

4198
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

2367
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments