I’m 19 years old, tall, blonde, blue eyes and way too outgoing for my own good! I spend a ton of time in A2 and work at a daycare full time. I have parents that are way too strict and friends that are way too crazy, but I need change. I need something new—here’s why!
I have a two o’clock curfew and I have gone by that for the past year. Three days ago I get home twenty minutes late after having called a half hour before telling my parents I was going to be late. I get home and here’s how the conversation went:
Dad: Why are you late?
Me: My friend’s ride got drunk and left him in Ann Arbor.
Dad: How the hell is that your problem.
Me: He is my friend.
Dad: Well, he shouldn’t be anymore. I want you home every day at 9:30PM from now on.
Me: I’m almost 20, hell no.
Dad: Then find a new place to live.
So that’s what I’m going to do. It’s scary upsetting and I have no idea what’s going to happen, but look for me in Florida where the sun is always out and it never snows. Michigan is no good anyway.
I’m Caitlin. I’m 16, a lesbian, a transexual woman (MtF), radically left, radically queer, a writer, musician, and a lot of things which I could claim weird ‘cred for. All the same, I’m just a kid. My puberty was prolonged and terrible, but I live a boring, upper middle class, Ann Arbor, white life. I get along with my parents, I try to get a girlfriend and all that growing up shit. I am boring and that is a victory for all the girls like me that haven’t had that option.
My first kiss and first boyfriend and first heartbreak just told me he’s going to have a baby with a girl he met while traveling. I haven’t had feelings for him since high school (aside from some alcohol-induced mutual quasi-lust), and I’m by no means looking to have a baby, but I think “floored” ALMOST begins to cover it.
We’re so fluid when we’re young, but all you need to hear is that someone you’ve known since the awkward years—especially the boy responsible for much of your teen angst throughout high school and drunken flirtation throughout college—is going to be a father to realize that everyone around you is solidifying and that you need to find your place or become comfortable with being alone and with increasingly limited opportunities.
Quarter-life crisis. I have it.
I didn’t know what it was like to have a loving mother until I moved out. Even though I see her every week, I’m scared that I’m being a bad daughter because I decided to grow up and live my own life. I’m even more scared that when she’s gone, I’m going to regret not seeing her more often when I had the chance.
I’m a seventeen year old girl who doesn’t want to stop being childish. I sometimes feel like my life has no set path, and most times I can’t answer when people ask me what I want to do after high school. But you know what? That’s okay. I can’t see into the future, and if I could I’m sure things would be a lot less adventurous. But if I had to wish, I would say that I would want to live my life being awesome, respected and free. Money? As long as I get by I’ll be fine. I want love, happiness and a peaceful environment to live in. Is that too much to ask? Is that the right thing to answer for what I want to do after high school? I’m already blessed with happiness (for the most part), love, respect from friends and for the most part a peaceful state of mind and environment. I wouldn’t mind living like this for the rest of my life! Can I do it?
Wish me luck lovies, I’m off to chase this adventure!
I’m 27, I look up and see a calendar with a ferret theme. To my left, a deck of pokemon cards and a gameboy color, sitting on the shelf are three transformers. Behind me sits a spiderman head which used to be filled with bubble gum, the background of my laptop is the ninja turtles. I have been living on a $0 income per year for almost 2 years now, thank god I’m close friends with the landlord or I would be out bummin on the side walk.
I guess the message I’m trying to send to you kids is, when you say “I never want to grow up”, think long and hard about what your really saying. But, if you in fact do remain in your childish status, have a nice time sipping juice out of your looped straw.