The Arkansas high school instructor’s advice to his students to “enjoy your teenage years” is obviously not a one-size-fits-all philosophy, as was reported in James E. Causey’s column “Being a kid isn’t easy” (April 5).
Did I enjoy my teenage years? No! I wanted those years to be memorable and productive, but for me they were marred by intense bullying in school, which resulted in anxiety attacks and low self-esteem that followed me into early adulthood.
As for today’s kids, it’s not a matter of growing up fast, but rather it’s how they’re growing up. As a later-in-life grocery store employee, I work side by side with young people who can’t engage in an eye-to-eye conversation because their eyes are glued to iPhones, not to mention they have a less-than-spectacular work ethic.
Granted, I never married or had kids (I’m 63) and I didn’t deal with poverty or sexual abuse as a child, but I’m certainly happier as a grownup. My brain works better. Things are starting to make sense to me, and I’ve learned that having regrets is a part of life, which isn’t meant to be perfect. I feel better about myself than ever before. I’m now taking pride in the person I’ve become.
My message to young people: Embrace life with all its ups and downs. Mistakes happen. Learn from them and keep moving forward.
Matthew A. Perta, West Allis
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘Enjoy your teenage years’ not a one-size fits all approach | Letter
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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