What does it mean to be an Adolescent?

Blog – Quick Write One

What does it mean to be an adolescent?

Adolescent is a period of growing and discovering self-identity and independents.  As the body is changing physically, the brain is developing cognitively.  Emotions are high, and peer pressure is tough.  Individual environments affect the success of this transition.

Where were you as an adolescent?

I was shy in junior high school. I think this was because I moved from a big city to a small town and was in the middle of a constant custody battle.  However, once my roots were determined, I enjoyed as many school activities and groups that I could join.  The school told me at one point had to choose between a few.  I was at school more than at home, but my dad was very supportive.

What did your teachers expect of you?

It was a long time ago.  In grammar class (unsure of the correct class name) spelling was the most important thing.  Even at the high school level, if we missed a word we had to write it 25 times.  Then my dad made me do it again at home.   My favorite was a speech class. We had practice time with the teacher, and he would give me ideas for improvement, then, I would practice in front of a mirror until I had the assignment memorized.  That teacher was my favorite because he helped develop my confidence level.  And I would have to say that history was another challenging class of memorization.  Memorization seemed to be the structure of learning and not so much for the application.

What are your literacy practices today?

I have been attending college periodically for several years.  I consider myself a lifetime learner.  I have three adolescent children ages 16 – 19 and over the years I have been reading to them, helping them with their homework assignments, as well as my homework reading and assignments.  I substitute and always find myself either reading aloud or helping with a reading assignment.  I also work with a lot of families and find myself helping them read, write and comprehend documents.  Some as simple (to us) as writing a rent check or filling out a money order.  It is unfortunate at how many of my tenants come to the office and ask me to explain a document, as simple as “Pest Control, Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.”

With that, I do not feel I have acquired the skill of reading a novel or poetry for my pleasure.  This excitement comes from the classes that I take in college.  However, I do enjoy helping others find an understanding with written documents and explaining the written words.