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Quest
Emerging teenagers
How does one describe a teenager? To do so, one needs to know their psychology.
A teenager is characterised by dominant characteristics self-consciousness, imitativeness and restlessness.
When a teenager emerges, he discovers his own personality, like a chick just breaking the shell in which he was confined — the family — and begins to find his way in the world.
Identification bracelets begin to appear: So far, his life has been merged with that of the family. If the parents say, "We are going to visit Granny today," the child has to go. But the teenager argues; he refuses to be a part of an anonymous group. He begins to assert himself.
This is the age when the boy begins to carry a comb, and girl wins the battle of lipstick. The only world in which they feel at home is with fellow teenagers. Hence, they have a language of their own.
Only in their own milieu do they feel they are understood. Fear of being misunderstood drives them to silence or else to "beepop talk" — which only the initiated can understand. In addition, they love to attract attention. They write their names on benches and walls, making loud noises in street corners and in buses, so that people may be conscious that, here at last, is a personality beginning to emerge.
Gestures are quick, gauche and awkward. Sloppiness is cultivated to attract attention; feelings are easily hurt.
But all these are signs that a personality is being born into the adult world, and democracy is founded on personalities. Be not too hard on them.
Saranya B, XII
Chennai: Sri Krishnaswamy Matric. H.S. School
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