Washington, DC USA Until my mid 20s my personality was extremely rigid and quite judgemental about people and opinions. A series of chaotic events transformed me and I am much more organic now. I still have high expecations for myself and am not that open about my feelings to others, both traits I had in high school. Felicia, 35
Lowell, MA USA I was a very carefree but caring teen. Actually I still act alot like I did as a teen. Serious when needed but can be a wild kid as well. Stephanie, 25
TX USA I was a good teenager and had my head on straight. I was mature for my age. I had alot of responsibilities as my mother was ill after her 9th child. I went to church and believed in God at an early age. I planned to go into the misistry but then got married and have been for 40 years this year. I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. I think I am a better person today as I learned alot of things at an early age.
Marci, 56
Diamond, OH
USA
I am a teenager right now. Although I'm a lot different from when I was 14 or 15. I was more timid then, unconfident, a little dorky I guess, but not too bad. Just the kind of dorky every 14-year-old is. I'm much more experienced in every way now, and I look a lot different. I think I'm pretty average for a teenager now.. I'm going to Michigan in the fall, I have a good job, went on spring break, partied, etc. It's a sweet time to be 18!!
Katie, 25
Seminole, FL USA
I think of myself as having been an intellectually precocious, introverted teenager who would often prefer a good book to social activities. But I tend to forget that I had lots of friends, was on the student council, worked on plays, did volunteer work, was an office of various clubs, and represented my school in countywide activities. Therefore, now that you've raised the question, I guess I haven't changed as much as I would have thought. I still enjoy intellectual challenges, still have lots of friends (including a few of the same ones), am still active in community and social activities, and still occasionally pass on social events to finish a good book.
What has changed is that I am much more confident about who I am, and much more willing to admit to what I am not.
Jane, 60
West Linn, OR
USA
I'd like to think that I'm quiet, polite, funny and approachable, but most people probably think I'm a moody, sarcastic bitch. Such is the life of an unpredictable teenager!
Shanna, 16
Cardiff ENGLAND
Hm. I was. . .not naive, exactly, but--I don't know, sappy and too emotional. I was better-balanced emotionally then, but I'm working on that. I was less in control of my body and more judgmental. It's really funny, because all the things I was against in high school (like country music and, uh, stuff) have come back to haunt me. It's total poetic justice.
Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA USA
As a teenager, I was curious, bemused and ethical. Today I am curious, bemused and ethical.
Jill, 60
Saylorsburg, PA USA
Actually, I was an angry loner, although I kept to himself, wrote, hung out with my pets, and my friends. It probably influenced me in that I don't care for popularity or any of that crap. I saw all the cliques in school and I hardly felt bad that I did not fit into them. The main difference is that now I work full time and I am not really angry...perhaps frustrated, but not angry...I don't miss high school, that is for sure....may it die a horrible horrible death. As the Undertaker would say, Rest In Peace.
Mick, 30
Chicago, IL
USA
I have in the past dealt with my anger by not dealing with it and then turning it in on myself in the form of stress. I have over the last couple of years, been working through expressing my anger and accepting it.
Felicia, 35
Lowell, MA
USA
I was a lot quieter most of my teenage years. I can still be very quiet at times now, but i'm definately more outgoing. I'm also more prone to self-hatred now. I think, considering what I went through, that I was more resillient then. I don't think i could survive the same stuff nowadays.
Talia, 23
Wilton, CT
USA
I still am a teenager!
Sarah S., 17
Ithaca, NY
USA
I'm still a teenager. I'm a liberal activist.
Eric, 19
Beverly Hills, CA USA
I was pretty content as a teenager. I had strong family ties, lots of friends, had ample opportunities to explore life...I was morally and ethically sound, had a generally good attitude about humanity...and I was just wild enough to make me normal. My personality hasn't really changed much throughout the years, though I have become quite a bit tougher, more patient and tolerant, and a whole lot wiser, generally calmer. I've always been a deep thinker; more of a thinker than a dreamer. Now that I think about it, I haven't really changed that much at all.
Fisch, 45
Preston, CT
USA
Well, I know that I AM a very weird teenager... I'll probably be as weird when I'm an adult!
Jeremy, 14
Highlands Ranch, CO USA
I was a very unhappy teenager. The result of a very unstable family situation in combination with really low self esteem/depression. Not a good mix at all. The difference? I actually like myself now. I am not a doormat anymore, at least most of the time. And I try to stay on the positive side of life, although my natural tendency to be a pessimist gets in the way of that sometimes.
Maggie, 20
Sandwich, IL
USA
I was always on honor roll. I was involved in a bunch of clubs in high school -- chorus, German and French club, foreign language honor society, regular honor society... I was always doing something with my friends. I'd do just about anything on a dare. My friends accuse me of leading them into many temptations, but that's not the way I remember it. Most people seemed to think I was fun to be with.
Not much has changed since then. I'm compelled to do my best at work, I seem to be on many different committees and boards, I'm usually in the test group for new projects... and I'm always doing something for work, volunteering, or hanging out with family or with friends. So not much has changed.
Laura, 36
Lowell, MA
USA
5/02/01 I'm still a teenager...I'll get back to you in 10
years:P
Kevin M., 18
Frazier Park, CA USA
Well uh...I'm still a teenager, but I would say I'm just a normal one-I have experimented w/ things but now that I'm in college, I tend to stay away from most of it. I think that I'll be just like my teenage self in my later years, only a little wiser from experience.
Angela, 16
Aiken, SC
USA
I can't answer that as I am only 18.
Maria
I was a terrible teenager!! I was so rebellious. I was also bisexual. Now I am abstinent and I have grown closer to God. I have also matured greatly.
Melodi, 19
Gahanna, OH
USA
TN USA