By
Updated 4 years ago,December 4, 2020
The teenage years are both exciting and trying.
Theyre a time for changing and growing into the adult youre meant to be.
But this growth process isnt without trauma, anguish, heartache, or moments of clarity.
Tyler Nix
The experiences we have are what shape the person we become.
Ideally, we learn from our mistakes and adjust our lives accordingly So which teenage mistakes are worth making?
And what exactly did we learn from them, if anything?
Or were they just colossal fuck ups?
Heartbreak
Ah, young love.
Its exciting, thrilling, new, and ultimately, tragic.
You swore this was it.
You were in love.
Youd found your soulmate and no one could tell you different.
Think Romeo and Juliet with fewer metaphors and death.
You realize that youre stronger and more resilient than you once thought.
But once you crawled out of your slumber, you were a little wiser.
You had learned a little bit about yourself and love.
Heartbreak in your teens teaches you to heal.
To reflect on the past relationship and discover things about yourself as a partner.
Maybe you could have been a more patient and supportive partner.
Did you actjealousor insecure?
Although reflection isnt exactly a teenagers strong suit, this is the time to perfect the process.
Rebellion
Teenage rebellion is something we all go through.
And if you didnt, you should.
Living a life of complete solitude, shelter, and inexperience can have negative effects later in life.
Your mind will be consumed with questions like, What if Id done this?
What does it feel like to do that?
These thoughts will nag you over time and may result in even more reckless behavior in the future.
Im not suggesting that as a teen, you break all the rules or act out against authority.
When you become ateen driver, you adopt a certain sense of freedom paired with responsibility.
And its this sense of independence that is a common cause for rebellion.
Have you ever heard of a young adult whose parents were insanely strict?
What ended up happening?
As soon as they turned 18 and moved out, all hell broke loose.
It was their inner rebel dying to come out.
Thats why a healthy amount of rebellion in your teens is a good thing.
Without it, you might find yourself in trouble in your 20s.
Not to mention, the stupid mistakes you make in your younger teens are often repairable.
Once youre 18, shit gets real and stupid mistakes can result in criminal consequences.
And without this process, you may be left searching for your true identity well into your adult years.
Cliquing
The desire to fit in and be accepted doesnt end when you leave high school or even college.
All humans have an innate desire to feel welcomed and accepted by their peers.
Sometimes you become so blinded by this desire that it alters your behavior.
It may even alter who you are.
Teenage cliques are common and sadly, unavoidable.
Kids naturally divide into specific groups the jocks, the creative kids, the academics, and the outcasts.
So what does being a part of these illusive cliques teach us?
Some would say nothing positive comes from teenage cliques.
What did you choose?
And it likely felt pretty amazing.
Standing up for whats right is a lifelong lesson.
The teenage years are a time to hone and strengthen these character traits.
Cliques also give you perspective on the types of friends you want and people you want to associate with.
doesnt hold much weight in terms of what makes a good friend.
Take a look back.
How many of those people are you still friends with?
Have you ever looked back at photographs of yourself and thought, OMG, what was I thinking?
Thats all a part of discovering your personal style.
Maybe you adopted a goth style and dressed only in black for a year straight.
Or you decided to wear only sports clothes whether or not you were actually on a team.
Long hair or short.
Make up or none.
Even piercings or hair dye.
These are all forms ofself-expressionand a healthy part of growing up.
Not to mention the era in which you grew up somewhat dictates your style.
Bell bottoms in the 70s or Buffalo shoes in the 90s.
And the proof is in the photographs and yearbook pages.
So dont reject the awkward teen you see who wore their hair in a ponytail every.
Dont pity your teenage self who thought crop tops were the only shirt that existed.
Instead, thank them for teaching you the dos and donts of fashion.
Its part of the reason youre so damn sexy today.
Does that mean youll succeed in your efforts?
In fact, youll probably fall on your face.
In fact, you gotta dream big and try things regardless of your skill level.
These failures are where coping skills are mastered.
Dont view these missteps as embarrassing failures you want to bury forever.
Instead, understand what you learned from them.
You learned how to handle rejection, disappointment, and how to overcome challenges.
This helps you become more resilient.
It teaches you to accept your shortcomings and focus on your strengths.
And when you look back on your teen years, you could do so with no regret.
And without stumbling and falling, you may never discover the person youre truly meant to be.
So dont reject those awkward, painful teenage memories.
Instead, reflect on them.
They likely taught you way more about life than you ever realized.
