Norms: Individual Vs. Society-Fired Up

Word Count: 426

Gordon, Emma

Filmmaking

“Eye” of the Universe

Norms: Individual Vs. Society-Fired Up

Emma Gordon, 17

Am I Normal?

What is the definition of NORMAL? It is conforming to the standard or the common type. But who is really “normal”? Who decides what “normal” is? All teenagers have one thing in common, rebellion. It is a word used lightly though. You can rebel by staying out past curfew, or resenting your parents. All teenagers have done that in the past and will continue to do it because they all conform to their friends’ norms.

I am a “normal” teenager as they would say it. I resent my parents, but at the same time I understand how much they have sacrificed for me. But when I do not get my way, then it comes time to rebel. My mom and I got into a fight one time and I was so angry so I went out and did something I know she wouldn’t approve of; I pierced my lip. She was so angry when she found out, but it’s a normal teenage thing to do; rebel.

Everyone thinks that being a teenager is all about sex, drugs, alcohol and rebellion. But that is not the “norm”. In fact most teenagers only do those things because it is what their friends are doing. I never got into drugs of any sort and I’m not going to say I won’t in the future. No one ever knows what the future holds for us. I have had sexual encounters before, but again, my friends influenced me. My idea was that if you love someone, you have to have sex. This idea changed after the first time I had sex. It was a very confusing time for me and I really didn’t know what to do after that. I talked to my mom about it and I understood that parents actually know what they’re talking about. They were teenagers once and they have experienced everything we have before. So now whenever I have a problem that I know I can trust with my mom, I go to her for advice. I love my teenage years. They are teaching me so much for the future.

I think I am a pretty “normal” teenager according to what society thinks of teenage girls. It is a struggle everyday to get up in the morning, see your friends and also the people who hate you or the people you hate. People everyday are always struggling with everything in their teenage lives. They need to understand that there are struggles and there are opportunities for you to just relax and let loose with your life.