Anecdote of a Teenager:
Teens of Today - Anecdote of a Teenager
In this journey of brambles, dark woods and open meadows,
We teens stand at the edge of a stream, linger in the cool shadows,
There is no sturdy bridge to cross,
Stepping stones are the only way across.
But the teens today are up for it,
The teens of today, with their indomitable spirit.
Forward we go, some lead, others follow,
Every stone a challenge we face,
Every stone is an unknown space.
Stress is the first boulder we encounter.
It wobbles- we falter- yet onward, saunter.
Academics and sports are next in line,
We skip across them, one at a time.
Easy going, or so it seems-
It gets much harder, by all means,
When bullying and violence enter the picture
Teens find themselves in an inescapable fixture
Body image and fashion, other worrying factors
We flee, flee, from our detractors
Peer pressure makes teens almost lose their footholds
It’s hard to escape from being pressed into moulds.
Despite the waters too deep to brave
We strive not to lose ourselves in the churning waves.
But at the end of the line
On the other side of the river
Every teen comes out strong, stronger than ever.
All the adversity, affliction we endure
The challenges we champion make us firm and secure.
So that we can stride onwards.
And into the woods of adulthood, walk forward.
The teens of today are up for it,
The teens of today, with their indomitable spirit.
By Ananya Nijhawan, Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India.