When the term “teenager” comes up, people immediately imagine the stereotype of young people partying, driving recklessly, playing loud music, and not getting along with the adults around us. It’s important to remember that no matter who someone becomes, or what they do, there will always be a stereotype to available to define us.

Stereotypes are based on assumptions of a general group, but the reality is that in order for a stereotype to exist, there must be at least a small amount to which it is true.

Not many years ago, the word teenager didn’t exist and teenagers were viewed in a drastically different way than they are in the present. The difference between then and now is in the expectations held by not only adults, but teenagers and their peers.

Previously, there was no special treatment for adolescents. In many cultures, when someone reaches their teens, they are expected to act with the intelligence and responsibility of an adult.

Look at recent history: teenagers were expected to start careers or families at an early age. While these concepts are highly unrealistic in modern society, teens still possess the same biological maturity, modern day they just are not utilizing it in the same way.

However, in the United States, the teen years instigate a  “you only live once” set of ideals and expectations.

In this way, teens are limiting themselves by attributing irresponsibility to the fact that they are teenagers.

While many teenagers spend their time working at jobs or on homework, when they do take time off, teens choose not to be productive.

So many teenagers spend time talking about how they want to grow up and be adults, but the reality is that one must have higher self-standards if they hope to accomplish this.

It is so important that the current generation of teenagers doesn’t limit themselves; Teenagers have so much opportunity to alter the world for the better. It is their decision if they choose to fit the stereotype of the lazy, egotistical teenager, or if they choose to be leaders.

Declaring “I’m young” is never an excuse for deflecting responsibility and reality.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying youth, but it becomes a serious limiting factor if teens choose to let it define us.

One’s age should never make them less capable. It doesn’t hold us back from being successful, and it doesn’t hold us back from being dreamers.

In the same way, age doesn’t discount us from high expectations and our roles.

Teenagers need to accept full responsibility for actions and behaviors, and stop blaming shortcomings on age. It is time teens chose to be more than their stereotype.