Some problems teenagers face today that are not very different from those faced by their parents might include:
- Making friends; dealing with cliques
- Losing friends
- Whether they are liked by friends
- What to wear
- Fitting in with peers
- Teen bullying
- Sexual harassment
- Discrimination
- Hating high school
- Liking extra-curricular activities
- Not having enough time for homework AND work AND play
- Disliking to hating parents
- Hating their parents' primary religion
- Wanting to choose their own religious beliefs
- Struggling to be unique
- Wanting to be independent and "adult"
- Not having easy access to transportation - e.g. a vehicle
- No jobs for teens.
- Parents had even a lower minimum wage as teenagers than teens have today.
- Deciding "what do I want to do?" today, tomorrow, in the future
- Work? or College?
- How will I pay for college?
- How to "make a difference" in the world - How to stand out from other people and do something great.
- How not to succumb to boredom...or settle for less
- Feeling caught between family and friends
- Feeling less connected at home
- Wanting to leave your hometown as soon as possible
- Fighting with parents
- Being grounded
- etc.
Some differences? Parents today did NOT have as teens:
- access to cars
- access to money
- cell phones
- computers
- Audio-Visual Labs in school
- Video Games at home or on cell phones
- no personal phone in bedroom
