Relaxing? I don't even know the definition anymore. Between sports, school, music, writing, homework, school plays and eating (yes, eating gets its own category), I barely have time to say, "Can you pass the whipped cream?" to my family.
As a teenager, there are so many opportunities, so many open doors waiting for us to open. Such as the door to becoming an author, the door to becoming the president, and the door to the pantry.
I am easily overwhelmed, so when all of my teachers assign essays that are due the next day, I get edgy. My feet start to tap, my eyes begin to twitch, and my stomach tries to imitate a bear. How am I ever going to write 10 essays in one night? As it is, I don't get home until eight o'clock!
How about, in my friend's case, when your coach drops the bombshell that you have a volleyball tournament tomorrow? Not only is it a tournament, it's also an hour away, consists of six other teams, will start at five o'clock, and probably won't finish until midnight?
Or how about our parents telling us to clean up our room? For some of you this may only take an hour or so. For me it would take a year, and that includes me skipping school, sleep and most importantly: meals! I can't even see my floor or the tops of my dressers.
I can see the bottom of my drawers fine (all of my clothes are on my floor). So when I'm told to clean my room, my eyes start to twitch.
Now I'm supposed to write 10 essays, go to my game, and clean my room? This is usually the time when I throw something: my pencil, an eraser, or my brother.
Come on people, I have a life, too! Why must you insist on jam-packing my schedule? Wouldn't it be nice to just sit at home with a family-sized bag of chips and a two-liter of soda with a good comedy playing on TV? Close your eyes and imagine it …
Now open them! POP! There goes your imagination bubble. Back to running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
In all fairness, we have to understand the teachers' point of view as well. I have seen my dad stay up late at night grading papers.
I know that some of my teachers don't get home until after I do, and then they have to make dinner for their families. I know that my parents would rather not have to climb Mount Clothing to wake me up in the morning (because who actually wakes up with their alarm?).
Sometimes, when I get too overwhelmed, I have to take a deep breath and then dive headfirst into the predicament with a chocolate bar in one hand and a glass of apple cider in the other. You should try it sometime. I know that I will probably still not know the meaning of relaxation, but at least I can stop throwing my brothers!
No brothers were harmed in the writing of this column.
Miriam A. Thurber is a freshman at Unatego Central School. 'Teen Talk' columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/teentalk.
Teen Talk
Teenhood Today: Relaxation a foreign concept
- Teen Talk
-
-
A Word of Advice: Learn to appreciate what we have
By Melissa Flathmann "When I was a kid ... we had to walk to school, barefoot, in two feet of snow ... uphill, both ways!" How many of you have heard this line so many times your eyes automatically roll? I've heard it lots and as I get older, I realize that maybe as kids, we missed the point.
-
On The Go: Public speaking and I don't get along
By Adrian Adamo If, for some reason, you ever happen to be invited to attend an event where I am scheduled to be doing some sort of public speaking of any kind, do us both a favor and politely decline.
-
Weekend Reviews: Pottermore offers lots more Potter
by Maggie McVey I'm not typically someone who looks for the biggest sensations on the Internet. Frankly, I usually have way too much going on to be able to sit down and "surf the 'net" as the kids call it these days.
-
Teenhood Today: A nudge toward humility or confidence
By Miriam Thurber A problem that many people face is the issue of self-esteem. We either hold ourselves too high or we push ourselves too far into the mud.
-
A Word of Advice: Teens can make a difference
By Melissa Flathmann
-
Teen Talk: I'm becoming a pro at procrastination
There are a lot of dangerous things out there in the world, but of all of them, procrastination might be the worst. Why is that, you ask?
-
Weekend Reviews: May the odds be ever in your favor
ByMaggie McVey The newest tween sensation sweeping the nation is none other than "The Hunger Games" trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins. Many believe this series to be the next "Twilight" or "Harry Potter," but I think "The Hunger Games" is interesting in its own right.
-
Teenhood Today: You, too, can overcome technological difficulties
By Miriam Thurber I was planning on writing about stress. However, in the middle of writing it my computer died and that column disappeared into the other dimension.
-
A Word of Advice: Make eating fun and healthful
By Melissa Flathmann Eating healthy can be a challenge.
-
On The Go: A tale of an 18-year-old knitter
By Adrian Adamo When people hear of "knitting," the image that comes to mind is probably one of a bunch of elderly women, their glasses halfway down their nose, sitting around in a circle in rocking chairs, rocking back and forth with a ball of yarn trailing on the floor.
-
Weekend reviews: True hipsters don't try to be hip
By Maggie McVey The newest epidemic that seems to be affecting our nation's youth is one that may surprise and perhaps even disturb you. Yes, folks, teenagers all across the country are becoming hipsters.
-
Teenhood Today: If you can't laugh at yourself ...
By Miriam Thurber People need to learn how to laugh at themselves.
-
A Word of Advice: Being kind, honest goes a long way
By Melissa Flathmann We all have someone in our lives who has a problem owning up to their mistakes; it could be you, a friend or a relative. No matter who does it, be aware that in no way is it a good thing.
-
On the Go: I'm lovin' my jam-packed, stressful life
By Adrian Adamo Right now, it's exactly 1:22 p.m., which means I have exactly 20 minutes before I should leave for class, allowing a three-minute grace period. should there be any traffic when I'm crossing the street to get to class. And of course, I'll need to plan an extra 30 seconds or so to have on hand just in case the stairs are crowded today.
-
Weekend Reviews: All romance movies aren't mushy and traditional
By Maggie McVey Don't you just love love?
-
Teenhood Today: School "¦ Need I say more?
By Miriam Thurber Name one person who enjoys school _ one person who wakes up pumped each morning, finishes all assignments three months before they're due, and starts a club called "The best day of my life was the day my first teacher pried my arms off of my mom's legs and forced me to learn my ABCs!"
-
A Word of Advice: Little changes can make big difference for our earth
By Melissa Flathmann Every year our earth becomes more and more polluted. The sad part is that not many people try to stop it because they may think "How would one person make a difference?"
-
On the Go: Why do puzzles have to be so darn puzzling?
By Adrian Adamo Life isn't always easy. We are mere humans, trapped in this game we call "life," just trying to make our way through relatively unscathed.
-
Weekend Reviews: The Nook versus the book
By Maggie McVey Ever since electronic books or "e-books" as some like to call them, have risen in popularity, I have solemnly rejected ever feeling the necessity or desire to buy into the idea, undoubtedly created to make companies such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble copious amounts of money.
-
We'll all find our place in the world ... eventually
by Miriam Thurber I'm starting to think about my future, and it's scary.
-
A Word of Advice: Learn to appreciate what we have
