Teenagers don’t like being lectured to

Since this is a period when everybody is talking about teenagers, I have decided to write this letter.

How precious our lives are that we are the future of our communities. We understand that our future lies in our hands because we have often been reminded of it. I feel that the teenagers have to speak up.

As a starter, I am writing this letter hoping more adolescents will react and start having control. As a teenager, I would like to say a few words, knowing that there are other teenagers feeling the same thing.

Living as a young adult is a great time to be living, experiencing new things, and meeting new people, but at times, good things in life can easily turn into bad, but that does not mean we have to run away. We have to face the reality.

As hard as it is to deal with our lows in life, sometimes adults do not make it any easier by breathing down our necks. Each teen is different. It would be so much easier to live a life if we could just accept each individual as they are. Everybody has the wrong way to deal with their stress, but unfortunately alcohol and drugs are among them.

And now these days, people are thinking of stopping the alcohol and drug use. What they don’t know is by doing that they’re interrupting people’s lifestyles.

What I am trying to say is that as human beings we don’t have the right to control another human soul. That means you can’t tell us to quit alcohol and drugs. I mean you can give us the idea to quit, but not literally make as quit.

For most young adults, when a parent tells you that it’s awful if you do this or don’t do this or that, and make a big deal out of it, it makes us want to go ahead and do more of it.

I’m not saying we don’t want to listen. It is just like adults, we can only quit if we are ready. Most of the teenagers also would like to ask their parents: “Why? How dare you say I should quit alcohol and drugs when I have been telling you, my parents, to quit as long I can remember? Why should I listen when you never did?”

For those who are still not ready to quit drinking, know your limits and if you don’t want to get into problems, don’t find reasons to get revenge.

Anonymous Teenager
Kangiqsualujjuaq