posted August 17, 2004 11:58 PM         

Are there any questions that the teens have about anything for those of us that have left the uncertian waters of young adulthood? Remember those of us that are older have life experiences that you may find helpful like how we found our first job or how we delt with the "coming of age" issues. (ie. driving, dating, moving out, going to college, ect.)

It's just a thought for a thread.

posted August 19, 2004 07:43 PM         

Hmm, okay, I have a question- I am a HUGE procrastinator- I mean, with EVERYTHING. Is that a bad thing to have as an adult ?

posted August 19, 2004 11:46 PM         

As a struggling procrastinator myself, I have had to learn these lessons the hard way.

posted August 20, 2004 12:35 AM         

When I was a teenager I was an outcast that didn't feel that I had many friends. Most of the time my peers picked on me and taunted me to try to be like them. I often wondered if I just gave in, if they would except me.

The truth is that they didn't want me to join in to be one of the group, they wanted everyone to be like them so that they did not have to feel like an outsider themselves. Remember, there is safety in numbers.

Recently, I have reconnected with some of my classmates after 13 years. Those that followed the heard are still in the same small town, in un-healthy marriages, and wishing that they had done more with their lives. They are very envious of me and wish that they had had the will to be themselves and not get "stuck" where they are now.

Remember that you are well on your way to a wonderful life full of both good and bad times. As long as you learn from your mistakes then it wasn't a mistake, but a life lesson well learned.

Love,
Irish

posted August 21, 2004 10:35 AM         

I worked that first year at the school painting classrooms and waxing floors and taking their "job searching and education" classes. I did such a good job that the next summer I was offered a position at a local State Park. I was still a part of the summer work program from the year before but I no longer took the classes.

I ended up working at that State Park for 2 summers. I became the reptile expert and helped with a prairie chicken study and a bison study. To this day I look back at that time and am greatful for what I learned about the land and what I learned about good work ethics.

This is still something that is on my resume and I have gotten several jobs because of my experiences while at the State Park.

(That was a great question LighTgrEEn!)

posted August 25, 2004 12:46 PM         

It was at a pizza place(Izzy's). I kept up the salad bar.

Eventually they found out about my age, but by then I was 16 so it didn't matter. The manager was annoyed with me about it. I explained my situation and why I needed a job before I was legally old enough to work. It was all good.

I worked there for about a year. I got fired when my parents went out of town and I threw a huge party... got wasted, slept in... got fired They don't like it when you just don't show up for work one day.