Formatted by: Arabella Fourneau
Written by: Anonymous
It is literally impossible to be a 16-year-old girl. You’re expected to have everything figured out about your future while still being treated as a kid. Everyone wants you to act mature, but they also want you to enjoy your “carefree” teenage years. The pressure to do well in school and college classes, fit in socially, maintain your parent’s expectations, and find your own path is overwhelming. How can these be your best years when you’re constantly stressed out trying to meet everyone’s expectations?
You’re supposed to be confident but not too confident, because then people think you’re arrogant. You’re supposed to be thin, but not too thin because then you’re seen as unhealthy. You’re supposed to be pretty, but not too pretty because then you are seen as vain. The standards are impossible and always changing. It feels like no matter what you do, you’re always doing something wrong in someone’s eyes. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with what everyone else thinks you should be.
On top of that, there’s all the emotional stuff. You’re trying to understand who you are, but everyone has an opinion of who you should be. You’re told to express your feelings, but when you do, you’re often called dramatic or too emotional. It feels like you’re supposed to be strong all the time, but you don’t always get the support you need to be strong.
And, somehow, through all of this, you’re supposed to find your passion and decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. But how can you do that when you’re still figuring out who you are? It’s like you’re expected to have all the answers, but you’re still learning the right questions. Being a 16-year-old girl is full of contradictions and pressures, and it often feels like an impossible task to navigate it all.
I’m just so tired of watching myself and every other girl my age think they are not good enough because they come across a problem they are told to solve but can’t. All we are are girls trying to have a successful future. If that’s not enough for others, then I don’t even know.
