shabalife

Supermodel teenagers

My assignment for a class was to choose a magazine and pitch a story idea to them for a future issue. "Any magazine?" I ask. "Yes, any magazine." I immediately think of writing for Seventeen magazine, a publication which I devoured in high school. I couldn't wait to get home from school and see my new magazine waiting for me in the mailbox. How I loved to flip to the department where a high school was randomly chosen in the U.S. and the students adorned the pages with their trendy clothes, mohawk hair styles and piercings I didn't know existed. Growing up in a small Midwest town, I was not exposed to much variety, especially kids my own age who had the freedom of expression without harassment from others.

So when I ran through the grocery store on my way to school yesterday to buy the latest copy of Seventeen, I was quickly disappointed when I discovered my beloved high school department had been replaced with articles on losing your virginity, the latest make-tips and fashionable clothes that I like (at the age of 26).

Sometime in the last 10 years, teenagers have gone from fairly innocent to sky-rocketing past 16 into their mid 20's. Why is a teen magazine displaying clothes for "The Office"? Why do the ads feature girls with more make-up on to disguise their youthful look and make me believe I'm looking at a girl my age?

I begin to have flashbacks of my teen years, when I went to high school in whatever ratty pair of jeans I could find laying on my floor and the typical oversized sweatshirt and my Old Skool Vans. Then I remember the girls who showed up to school with their high heels click-clacking down the hallway, perfectly matching their mini skirt and tube top.
This makes me realize the girls haven't changed a bit. It's the media that has changed. It seems there's more promotion over beauty than brains. There are more ads featuring make-up and hot clothing designers in Seventeen than articles on "Getting Into College" or "How to Make a Difference in Someone's Life".

I would like to think I am past the impressionable age when I don't compare myself to the emaciated models in the magazines anymore. I'd like to believe that I have more self-esteem than I did in high school. I have wonderful friends, great grades in school and am on my way to a professional career. I have seen and done enough in my short 26 years that I am grateful for who I have become since my lonely teen years. I understand what's important in life and what people don't think twice about.

When my sister started her freshman year at U-Minnesota, I told her not to discount anyone she meets. "Who can't use another friend?" I leave ringing in her ears. Once you get to college, no one cares if you were prom queen or what you wore to class. It's not important that you dated the quarterback or never got asked to a dance. I believe that college is this wonderful transition into the real world in more ways than just cramming for exams or crashing the biggest Frat party.
I'd like to think that my "worldly, mature advice" on the real world would help those girls who are struggling through high school. I'd like to save them time, drama and confusion they are facing with the article I'd like to include in their favorite magazine.

After my class dismissed, I sadly put away my new copy of Seventeen in my bag. I don't know what I'm more disappointed in, the fact that my old love has changed beyond my recognition, or that the advice I'd like to give young girls won't be accepted among the sex stories, celebrity gossip and mini skirt ads.

posted by erin @ 2:21 PM