As a teenager growing up in Lunenburg, you’d likely guess I live a slow paced/relaxed life, but that is far from the truth. From the outside, I bet it looks like I have it all together — I keep my grades up, help folks out around town, help my family, work a part time job .… all while trying to figure out my future. It’s exhausting.
Every day I have what seems like a mile-long list of things I need to accomplish, and there’s barely enough time to breathe, let alone just be. The pressure to do more and be more is weighing me down. How in the world am I expected to stay on top of schoolwork, be involved in my community, plan for my future, and somehow maintain a social life? It’s like I’m constantly moving, and if I stop, I’ll fall behind.
Most adults don’t understand how we feel because they compare our schedules to their own, without considering the fact that we’re still kids. It’s just a hard thing to explain because all of the stuff I’m doing is great life experience, but it’s just too much, all at once.
I know I’m lucky to have these opportunities, but sometimes I wish there was less focus on all of these things and more on being balanced and overall happy. I love being young, and I want to continue to experience it—-not just rush through it.
