Advice for OITM, Embrace Your
Fabulous Adolescent Ambiguity

oming of age in
‘ America is a fluid
process defined not by

chronological age but more by
the inner rite of passage that
entails rebelling against authori-
ty, defining ones self, and in the
Hollywood version there is
always a love interest. From The
Breakfast Club to The
Incredible Adventures of Two
Girls in Love films reinforce for
us how this journey towards
becoming ourselves is both
about defining ourselves, as
well as defining others.

I can remember being thir-
teen like it was yesterday. I was
getting ready for high school
and I watched coming of age
movies and TV shows like I was
studying for an exam. Pretty in
Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful,
Ferrjs Bueller 3' Day Ofl... any-
thing to teach me what it would
take to be “cool” and not the
“loser” or “geek.” I watched
these movies until I could
define all of. the roles of high

  

school from “nerd” to “jock.”
As the beginning of high school
approached, I got worried. All
of these roles were enthralling,

but they were way too limiting.
What if I went out for volleyball
and did well in my classes,
would I be a “jock-nerd?”

Not being able to define
myself, I did whattall good
teenagers do. I rebelled, not‘
against my folks, but against the
labels. An androgynous ninth
grader, getting all A’s, playing

volleyball, listening to punk
music and having a good time.
Whenever anyone tried to
pigeon hole me into one catego-

All of these roles were enthralling,
but they were way too limiting.

' What if I went out for Volleyball
and did well in my classes, would
I be a “]'ock-nerd?”

ry; I would laugh and then do
something to contradict them.

My polonious advice to
OITM on its thirteenth birth-
day...don’t rush to define your.-_
self as an adult. Embrace the
ambiguity and diversity present
in the population you serve. And
of course, be a good teenager,
and rebel. V

    

 

  1
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