We are not who you think we are

Teens are diverse, so don't try to pigeon-hole them.

Teens are undoubtedly one of the most stereotyped groups in our community. As a teenager, I experience negative overgeneralizations most of the time. I’m not sure most adults know who we are.

I’ve always wanted to be an author. Some children harbor fantasies about being princesses or super heroes, then later as teens they dream of earning their doctorate or passing the bar exam. To me, nothing is more exhilarating than seeing my words in print. As a tenth grade student attending a public school, I see ambition among my classmates run the gamut. Some are utterly devoted to their studies, and others are less motivated. Unfortunately, the latter group is usually the one that gives adults the incorrect conceptions about the local teens. I would be willing to bet that everyone has faced these prejudices at some point in their lives.

There is so much negativity about Howell High School. It can be discouraging. However, the more time I spend at my school, the more I understand how many interesting and creative things happen there.

One point of pride at my school is the athletics. Few can truly understand the time and work varsity athletes dedicate to their sport. I’ve been swimming year round since 4th grade and honestly believe being part of the Varsity swim team is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Unless you do it, it is difficult to understand why anyone would wake up at five a.m. for practice. They can’t experience the commitment of the football players, the strength of Varsity gymnasts or the peacefulness of cross-country runners. This athleticism is undeniably part of this community and cannot be overlooked.

A new phenomenon that is rapidly spreading right now is swing dancing. As unconventional and “Western” as it sounds, this dancing club has attracted high school students of all ages and is collecting more every single week. Not only is this after school club an excellent way to mingle cliques, it is very fun too!

Some of us work. Many of my classmates have jobs they are committed to and have fully embraced the responsibility that comes with them. Whether it is flipping burgers at a fast food restaurant or teaching toddlers ballet, each job teaches time management and is essential to our community.

I work at the Howell Carnegie District Library shelving books. I’ve been paging for about a year and a half and my job has taught me many things. At the library, I hear some negative things, but I also get to watch how the library staff is able to deal with patron problems. They amaze me. At first, the library users did not trust me. They were hesitant to ask me questions or let me help them find materials. Now, I think they are starting to understand that well-qualified teens are deserving of respect too.

We shouldn’t be categorized into one troublesome group as some seem to do. Our creativity, dedication and contributions to this community are clear. We have to work to achieve our dreams, and in my case, writing for Livingstontalk.com is the first step.

We are not who you think we are.