he doorbell rings. An unassuming adult walks to open the door. Three teens stand in costumes outside. Panic.
Why is it that when a savage six year old in a green T-rex costume shows up on a porch on October 31st do they get candy while a calm and hopeful teen, in a stegosaurus costume, gets suspicious looks? Teens are often wrongly viewed as a public nuisance, especially on October 31st.
“I remember when I was in high school, it was my freshman year and we were trick-or-treating and we had people open their doors and slam them in our faces at 13, 14 years old,” said AP Psychology teacher, Vicki Hanes. “So I’m not opposed as long as you’re not making trouble, like if they don’t have candy or something you’re not coming back and pranking their house or something like that.”
If a teen can get a good costume and a good attitude, they should be able to trick or treat. However, effort should be required for these costumes, especially from teens with great crafting abilities and even those without.
Understandably, many members of the public feel trepidation when an adolescent shows up on their porch. What are they doing? Are they going to break something?
All of these are valid fears with the teenage reputation of angst and rebellion. However, have we considered that maybe the reputation is flawed instead of the teens themselves? It is isolating to be in a world that assumes the worst of you as you struggle to discover who you are.
All the teen in the stegosaurus costume wanted was to be a kid again. As teens look towards the future and adulthood and the rest of their life, it can be rather daunting. Somehow the road of life seems to stretch forever, something both inviting and threatening at the same time.
“In general, [the future] is pretty uncertain. I don’t know what’s coming so that can be a little scary,” said SM junior Anna Holmes. “I think that getting to relive your childhood memories with Halloween and trick-or-treating and all that can help bring back feelings of childhood.”
The looming thoughts of self reliance and adult responsibilities feel like an unknown for many which means that it is just as important as ever to remember that teens are kids too.
Overall, teens may not be so much of a public nuisance as many adults think they are. In reality, teens are just kids who want to relive some of their favorite childhood memories. And besides, for all we know, the six year old in the T-rex costume could be even more dangerous than the teens.
