The Joys and Challenges of Adolescence

Adolescence is the twilight period between childhood and youth and joy and challenges. This is the best phase of our lives that is filled with immense possibilities, hopes, aspirations, fantasies, uncertainties, toil and high drama. We realize only later how much our lives are connected with this most dramatic and thrilling stage of life.

The strict discipline of school is now out of date. I was thrilled with the prospect of going to college and making new friends. My excellent grades in ICSE called for celebration. Weeks went by in partying, outing with friends, watching movies, chatting on the Internet and playing. It is indeed a great respite after the gruelling boards examinations, which even my parents did not grudge. Gossiping endlessly with a friend on the phone and playing pranks became the order of the day. However at home, I need my space. No more cuddling up to parents, for now, it appeared foolish and childish. In the privacy of the room my fantasies took flight, making me daydream my aspiration and ambition.

It is also very common to be obsessed with one’s looks. Keeping track of the latest fashion trends and aping the youth icons in mannerism and style is quite normal. The leg pulling and harmless pranks between friends make life easy going and free of all worldly worries.

The joy and euphorbia however soon dies down, as the first quarterly examinations approach. back to books, and burning the midnight oil, however, did not help, for the not good grades told it all. Realization soon dawned that resting on my laurels would get me nowhere. To achieve my ambition of doing engineering from the hallow portals of IIT; I would have to study hard. Picking up the gauntlet, I firmly resolved to focus on my studies, The strenuous routine soon began to take its toll. My pale cheeks and loss of appetite did not go unnoticed by my mother. She soothed me telling me to have faith in myself and do ‘Karma’, without thinking about the reward, for the fruits of labour are always sweet. Her compassion and counselling was a divine help and motivated me to strive harder. Nevertheless, the doubt and underlying fear persisted, giving me sleepless nights, often making me sit up in bed perspiring profusely.

I find music to be really helpful at hard times

Besides academics, one is also faced with challenges on the social and emotional fronts. Being grown up you are expected to behave more responsibly and lend a hand to parents in their daily chores. On the emotional front, you need to show maturity in handling heartaches and relationships, which can be potentially damaging.Adolescence is indeed a very crucial phase of our life, which can make or mar our future. Though filled with joy and happiness bereft of any responsibility, it throws up numerous challenges that ultimately mould our future. You have to make a lot of choices. Sometimes it’s hard, because you don’t want people to think your stupid or a chicken for not doing something. Here is one of the choices you have to make is who you hang out with. The people you hang with make a big difference. You don’t want to get into the wrong crowd, and end up getting in trouble with the law, or doing anything stupid that you would regret afterwards. If you find the right crowd of friends they’ll make this the best years of your life!!