Age of Independence

Teenagers have always struggled to figure out what is expected of them and how they should behave on a daily basis. Adults expect teens to be very passive and refrain from all sexual activity, as well as be irresponsible and reckless. However, teens today are more assertive, challenge adults, and are often engaging in sexual activity much before adults would ever like to recognize or admit. It is difficult for teenagers to figure out whether they should listen to adults and act the way they tell them to, especially since adults do the complete opposite of what they expect teens to do. I usually have weekly battles with my parents over how they want me to act and how I want to act. One of our more recent fights was over being allowed to go to a concert in Milwaukee and my parents' concern for me being on the road at night being "reckless". I feel that parents and kids are always going to fight over how teens are supposed to act, mainly because adults are from a different generation that has very different ideals and values than the teens in today's society.