topic Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like? in Community Chat

What Were Your Teen Years Like?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:32:15 GMT

My class graduated 146 kids in 1968. We pretty much all walked to school or parents drove.The only school buses, 2 or 3, of them brought kids from other smaller outlying boroughs.

None of my group smoked, drank, did drugs and only 1 had s*x with her boyfriend of many years. We were amazed we knew someone who did it. Yes,we were pretty tame.

9 times out of 10 my best friend and I double dated or a group went out. School dances and Friday night football games in the fall. Movies or just driving around like other kids.

My parents knew my best friends parents, our Dads hung out when they were kids. The Dad of a classmate introduced my parents. I learned early on that no matter where I was there were only 6 degrees of separation to someone who knew my parents or my friends parents. Doing something really bad was not going to be a secret and being grounded would be my future.

When driving started we all chipped in for gas.It was about 30 cents a gallon. After movies everyone gathered in cars at Mcdonalds or a nearby parking lot.Curfew was 11pm.

It wasn't exciting but we had a good time. I'm glad I grew up then and not a teenager now.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Meowingkitty — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:44:06 GMT

I went to school in the Phoenix area. Graduated in 1973. Girls were have s**, several had abortions and some had the kids and brought them to class. Drugs were plenty. Smokers would go across the street and smoke between classes and lunch. I was pretty much a loner and didn’t go out much. Typical football games and events. Driving was a big deal. Several girls in my graduation class were pregnant. I guess that’s normal for a major city.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 19:53:56 GMT

@Meowingkitty We were a suburb of a decent size city. The city high school graduating class in 1968 was 900 to our paltry 146. We walked over the bridge to "town" frequently back then I wouldn't do it today as an adult. Our side of the river is still pretty safe, town not so much.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Vivian — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:04:45 GMT

I went to a large but excellent public high school in the suburbs of NYC in the 1960s.Three Nobel laureates were alumni. Most of the kids were first or second generation Americans, the first generation to go to college in many cases. My schoolmates were admitted to all the Ivy League schools...including moi. We were definitely over-achievers. We partied but behaved ourselves, knowing that we could not disappoint our parents with bad behavior. My classmates have become doctors, lawyers, engineers, counselors, psychologists, accountants, nurses, teachers, even politicians.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

FrostyBabe1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:00:56 GMT

Busy, very busy!

I was involved in sports, as well as band, choir, and orchestra, along with taking all of the advanced math & science classes that I could get. I didn't really like school. It didn't challenge me, but of course not going wasn't an option. My teachers in elementary school tried to skip me past a couple of grades, but my parents didn't want me to graduate at 15 (they certainly wouldn't let a 15 year old go off to college alone!) so I stayed where I was and kept myself busy to alleviate the boredom. I wasn't really crazy about college either, but I took extra classes and managed to get my degree in three years.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

qualitygal — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:01:52 GMT

Not too bad, lots of music and dancing.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:05:15 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
Not too bad, lots of music and dancing.

Same for me, along with schoolwork and part-time jobs.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Ms tyrion2 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:11:24 GMT

I went to a catholic high school in a medium sized college town. I graduated in 1973.

There was plenty of drinking and pot smoking in my school. Several pregnancies. We were a college prep school and there were a lot of old money families who attended.

Being a "smart kid" was valued. I was a National Honor Society member and Illinois state scholar. Most of the more popular kids were.

Because it was a college town, we met and dated college guys when we were 16 and 17. We attended college parties and used fake IDs to get into the college bars.

I came out of relatively unscathed. Yes, I drank and did very minor drug experimentation, but I grew up and became self supporting by the age of 19. I don't regret any of it.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

50Mickey — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:35:34 GMT

I graduated in '68 from an all girls Catholic high school. There were 52 girls in my graduation class. Can't say we were angels. No drugs but by the time we graduated we had a few wild times. We still manage to get together every once in awhile and reminisce about the great times we had.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:39:43 GMT

One sunny sat.my best friend's Dad let us take his convertable for a couple of hours. Going down the main drag to Mcdonalds there we were 4 almost 17 yo girls and we saw a military vehicle in front of us. The back was full of Army reserve guys. They waved, we waved back for about 3 blocks. We turned into McDonalds and off they went.Monday after school I was at my friends house when her Dad,owner of the car, came home from work. After asking how school was we got,"so how long did you following the Army vehicle on Sat?" Seems one of the men he worked with was on the truck, recognized the car and my friend, and first thing Monday morning at work told on us.

We laughed about that for years. Her Dad reminded us of it long after both of us were married.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

bootsanne — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:45:12 GMT

I graduated with honors from a suburban school. My father had bought a small diner for my mother, brother and me when I was 14. Went to school, was picked up after school and went to work. My dad died when I was 16, my brother who is older than me, got a government job when he returned from the Army, so that left me and my Mother putting in 16 hour days. This continued til I was 24 when my mom sold the business and I went to work in an office. So basically my teen years were spent working. My social life consisted of the regular customers and the girls who who worked for us. I could have gone to college but I chose to stay with my Mother and work. While others were enjoying amusement parks, concerts, parties, I worked. And i didn't turn into a serial killer or mass shooter because I couldn't go to Cedar Point every other weekend. I always had a new car, money in my pocket and learned a good work ethic. I guess some people now would consider it a form of child abuse to have a teenager work so much, but I had some really great times at that diner. Curb service, juke box, pool tables, a much more Happy Days life than what the teenagers of today have.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

kitcat51 — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 20:56:49 GMT

Not good...from 12 until I moved out at 17 I was the adult taking care of the house, my younger brother & myself while my parents fought, cheated & moved in & out. Those crazy times taught me to be responsible & keep my emotions under control.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Brisky — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:00:37 GMT

I graduated in 1982. I was a quiet teenager with good grades.Same best friend from 8th to 12th grade. I was always well liked because I truly believed kindness is the best thing people can be. Did drink and didn't like it No drugs period. No regrets. Did have some fun but I guess I'm kind of boring. I read ALOT.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

SeaMaiden — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:14:07 GMT

At age 13 my world as I knew it fell apart. My parents divorced. My Mother moved out....left me with my Father(. I wanted to be with her!). I was destroyed. Perhaps if our family had had therapy or something, it would have helped me deal with the family problems....but we never did that. My Mother leaving left a huge hole in my heart that is still there today.

I became anorexic ... in 10th grade in 1971. Before they had a name for it....It was the only thing I could control in my life...my food intake...as the rest of my family life was spinning out of control. I battled anorexia for most of my teen years....into my early 20's.

Thankfully, I survived. My teen years were not happy ones🙁

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

croemer — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:16:43 GMT

Large class 740 students if I recall correctly when we graduated we were the largest class in the city. Major good football team went to state every year won the championship Jr. year and lost by only 1 point my senior year)...I was on the dance team so weekends were fun. Weekdays full of practices and I had some very good friends to spend my days with. I was in 2 different H.S.'s and loved them both.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Brisky — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:22:04 GMT

SeaMaiden, sorry to hear that. I'm glad you made it to the other side. ☺

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:23:09 GMT

Surburbs of Rochester NY. Class of 1978. Catholic school. Some of us were into drugs, drinking (not me), but all took school seriously, and most went on to college. Big school, over 500 in my class - I never knew most of them.

I wanted to fit in, have a group of consistent friends (somewhat successful) and, oh, did I want a boyfriend (not successful)!

Can't say I loved school, but I liked it OK. After I turned 17 I got a part-time job, and was thrilled with the money!

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

croemer — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:25:34 GMT

@Brisky wrote:
SeaMaiden, sorry to hear that. I'm glad you made it to the other side. ☺

@SeaMaiden I am sorry to hear that too SeaMaiden. I am from divorce it does turn your world upside down. I was just talking about High School...life at home...was a challenge.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

NicksmomESQ — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:41:34 GMT

My teenage years were carefree & fun.I was a very good student.I had great parents.Dad was protective & mom very nurturing.

I went to parties, drank a little & dated. I really blossomed when I started college.I became involved in social & political issues.I learned quickly that my voice can make a difference.

Re: What Were Your Teen Years Like?

1Snickers — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:02:45 GMT

I graduated in 1960.

We were dancing fools! Rock & Roll and Elvis. My friends were going to see him downtown.

I asked who he was and went to see him on stage at a small theater. promoting Love Me Tender. What a bunch of screaming girls that was. My $1 allowance went to buying his latest 45 record.

My Father was strict but we were best friends and had boats and water skied. Drinking and smoking were not even thought of and I didn’t know what drugs were.

There were good and bad girls. I was like Sandra Dee.