Tolkien and Tiny But Mature Children

[Laitoste]

Well, Child of the 7th Age wanted someone in their teens to post, so here I am. I'm sixteen, and am definitely feeling pressure to grow up! I waited nearly the whole year until my learner's permit expired to get my driver's license, and I still don't drive to school, even though people think I'm weird because of it. I tend to make excuses, like I'm not supposed to drive in snow, etc. (The bus comes right past my house! Why would I waste gas and ruin the environment when it's easier to take the stupid bus?) I don't have a job, yet, but my parents think I need to earn some money, and are making me pay for half of a school trip to Mexico this summer. Most of my friends drive to school, have jobs, whatever. Plus there's the eternal pressure to plan out the rest of your life, down to the second, because everyone knows that if you don't, you'll be a horrible failure. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] I don't have time to have fun anymore! I'm very jealous of the hobbits.

However, there's a flip side. I don't want to appear too childish or immature. A lot of people at my school think that having fun equals ignoring homework, ignoring teachers, getting in trouble, being immature, whatever. These people haven't grown up enough, and don't know how to behave. Every Parent-Teacher conference my history teacher complains about this because he attracts these people (he's the easiest history teacher, or so I've heard. I love his classes, though. I learn a lot.).

There's a fine balance between growing up too fast and not growing up fast enough. I'd love to have more time to just go do fun stuff, or play with my old toys (I had some pretty cool ones, and I don't think that I appreciated them enough. WAH!), to not worry about college or my future life. That's just my opinion. I'm sure someone my age has a different one that I'd love to hear.