THE TEENAGERS

"Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth”.

Eccleslastes 12.1

"Just as I am, young, strong and free,
To be the best that I can be..."

The teen ages are the real growing up years; they are the bridge between childhood and adulthood, and the crossing of the bridge for some brings difficulties. One of them is self-identity. To which world do they belong? They have left the children's world, but have not quite arrived on the adult side, even though the age of eighteen is recognised for civic responsibilities.

They are the 'Between-agers', and like the soldiers of the grand old Duke of York of whom it was said, "When they were only half way up they were neither up nor down". And for some the feeling fills them with frustration. They feel that no one understands them, and truth be told, they do not always understand themselves. Likes and dislikes change quickly and sometimes violently.