Have you ever listened to 14 year olds speak?

Question

Have you ever met a melancholic, withdrawn 14 year old? I don't mean to sound insulting - I'm just trying to figure stuff out for my story. All the ones I've spoken to, and including myself at that age were all spastic, and very animated. I feel rude and old for asking this, but I'm just wondering if it'd be realistic to have a 14 year old character who is more withdrawn and quiet, as if sedated without the notion of him/her being on drugs? I honestly can't really remember what my class was like when we were 14.

Answer 1

yeah its normal

maybe they just have some problems in life, yk?

im not all bubbly

i have a cold sarcastic snappy tone

Answer 2

whats melancholic?????

and like kids my age 13-14 do drugs and have s*x but i mean i havnt cuase thats just grose and it would ruin my sport dreams  

Answer 3

TONS of 14 year old are withdrawn and quiet now.  

Answer 4

You can't generalize. Of course, there are the animated, air-headed, superficial 14year olds. But, there are also the quiet, intelligent ones. And there are the animated, intelligent ones. And the quiet, confused ones, and so on. Some 14year olds I've met have the minds of 30year olds, while some have the minds of 5year olds. Try reading books like 'For Freedom' or 'Mara and Dan', they show some very young people who are far beyond the stereotype you've been presented with.

As an author, it's your job to separate the 14year old from a 20 or 30year old. They can be quiet and withdrawn with some innocence or ignorance, you can do it.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I'm 14.  I'm not subdued or quiet at all.  Our halls at school are crazy and loud and happy.  I know a couple 14-year-olds out there that are quiet, but they are only that way because they are self-conscious or going through a depressed stage...

Answer 6

i am 14, you can send me an IM at [e-mail] and test me :)

Answer 7

I am 14 myself, and I am very quiet and shy. I never say much around other people; instead during class I normally just sit by myself and read. Btw-I am not on drugs or anything-I am depressed though.

People say that I am mature for my age, and I believe that that has something to do with the fact that I never get caught up in the other high school dramas.  

Answer 8

I was kind of a melancholic 14 year old, unfortunately. I've always been a little overweight and I rarely tried to communicate with other kids my age because I thought they'd make fun of me. I'm only about 20 pounds over what I should be, but I really let it get under my skin back then.

But, I was always quiet. It's just something some kids do, so it's perfectly realistic. If you want them to have a reason for being that way, mention a horrible accident they may have witnessed or some sort of abuse. Or they could just be a overweight like I was, or have a personal flaw like a speech problem.

Answer 9

well actually thats the way i am with my class cause i dont know them but i know alot of 14 year olds like that cause i was one of them. but now im 15 hehe. XD but looks can be deceiving. when im with my friends im a whole different person. im sarcastic and outgoing with my friends that i know well but with people i dont know well i dont show the real me because im not comfortable being like that. but yea i was more withdrawn and quiet didnt try to bring attention to myself cause i was scared of people since i was picked on alot and stuff...

Answer 10

Yeah, I've known many people like that who were 14. It's very realistic. have you ever read Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak?

Also, I noticed that the vast majority of them are generally significantly more mature than their peers. One girl in particular, if I hadn't actually seen her I'd have thought she was in her 30s or something.  

Answer 11

no i havent