Teens’ Concern: Am I accepted here?

Teens’ Concern: Am I accepted here?

           
"Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo isisiksik ang sarili mo kung wala nang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron namang hagdan, ayaw mo lng pansinin." -Bob Ong 

           

              This quotation means that we want to find somehow sense of belonging in a group or in a specific people that sometimes, we didn’t notice that we already meet those people who we can really consider as true friends but we just took them for granted because you want other circle of friends or other people.

            From my first hand experience, I can attest that most of the time, I want to feel that I belong, so as much as possible, I don’t want to feel alone because at times, I know it’s funny but I admit that I tend to be paranoid and be scared of being alone without any valid reason at all. So to avoid these scenarios, I shaped myself to become a friendly and an approachable person.

            I know that many of you, boys or girls, young or young at hearts, also experienced the scenario that you don’t want to be alone or is still experiencing that.

            The teenagers nowadays want to find that sense of belonging either from their circle of friends or from their own family because they fear that they will be bullied and will be out of place. All of us feel secured, accepted, loved and cared, every time that we feel that we belong. That’s why the tendency is for us, to do whatever it takes just to fit in, even if it’s not the right thing to do and that is what you call peer pressure.

            For me, there’s nothing wrong to befriend everybody, but we should always bear in mind, that true friends assist us to the right path not to the other way around. We should be able to analyze if those who you considered as friends, are worthy to be called one. Also, you should keep in mind that true friends are those who accept you for who and what you are, you shouldn’t change yourself or do something who’s not you, just to become accepted. As much as possible, don’t choose those “friends” who just benefit from you, meaning the ones who only considered you as a friend because they can use you or your ability, but after they get what they want, you’ll be left all alone.

            Why am I emphasizing these points? It’s for all of us, including myself, not to force ourselves just to attain the feeling that we belong. We should remember that God has gifts for us, including those people who we can treasure as true friends forever. Before concluding this, I hope that you learn something from this and live out what you’ve learned in the real world.