How do I act like an average teenager?

Question

I pretend my life is how it was several years ago: the life of a wealthy, innocent, intelligent, and shy young girl who only knew life as an above-average United States Citizen. The fact is, that was then and this is NOW. I lied to protect myself from the present and future. But now I am done pretending, I am done lying, I want to live now: right this second, in this very moment.

How do I live where a limo is a taxi, Target becomes Marc Jacobs, commercial airplanes replace private jets, top-notch preparatory schools are publicly funded, and our chefs turn into my ex-philanthropist, ex-board member, ex-socialite of a mother?

How do I live the life of an all-around average American … when there has never been anything normal about my life?

This is a really big change for me: My dad is going to jail and everything we have ever owned is being sold. I have never really been thrust into the "real world" until now. So please don't judge, just answer the question.

Thanks (:

Answer 1

i feel like you need to wake up & realize life isn't like this. people have to work for a living and people do not spend 3000 on purses and clothes. they have bills, rent, doctor fees to also pay. they shop at target and get  cute clothes too.

Answer 2

be strong, youll find out whose your real friends are, if non you will gain a new one.... people usually get blinded by money but true friends cannot be bought. i know its going to be hard for you just be brave. just put it this way a limo is still a car with wheels, expensive bag is still a bag its just expensive because of the name, private or public plane is still a plane ...... theirs not much difference.... youll be alright

dont forget to look at where you are now and dont look on where you are before....

Answer 3

okay sorry girl, but it looks like your realizing what the real world is all about. your little paragraph about working and taxis and all that c**p, seriously get a life. that is how most people live and one day you would be realizing that, so it just means that you can realize it now. i'm sorry your dad is going to jail but it might be a good thing, it might help you understand the real world before you turn into a spoiled brat. i'm really not trying to be rude. its the truth.

Answer 4

lmfao how old are you?

ahahaha your gonna get beat up for sure.

:D

Answer 5

about school: PUBLIC SCHOOL ROCKS!!!

Trust me, it really does. Don't be nervous about it.

I went from a private school to a public school a whole ago, and even though i loved my old school, i enjoyed the new public school way more!

About Fashion: Trust me hun, very few people in public school will be wearing Marc Jacobs or anything along those lines, so you won't be made fun of for that. KNOCKOFFS! If you want something that looks real, go to a market and a fake prada for $5. No one can tell!

About your mom: Buy her a cook book.

About Transport: Sorry, but all i can say is; get used to it honey! If your really that nervous, buy latex gloves and wear them on the subway! It's not really gross if you do that. In fact, it's really kind of cool! I had to figure out how to go from a city girl to a farm girl, and it was hard. I still miss riding the subway to school every day.

Answer 6

Who are we to tell you what an average teenager is. We come from different backgrounds so we all define it differently.

To me an average teenage girl shops at hollister, tagret, American Eagle etc. You're going to have to use public transportation. If you want a few new friends don't be snotty or act better than anyone else. Just try to be yourself..Good Luck!

Answer 7

get a friend and your good

Answer 8

please forgive me for this, but its the first word that comes into my head-SNOB!!!!! im not sure about how to be AMERICAN, but in aussie, basically none of us are considered normal and we get along just fine. Everyone is going to have different opinions of you, and you're going to have to deal with that. I have trouble adjusting to living with my mum and her boyfriend, to visiting my father in either Malaysia or another state where he aslo has a house, and him being rich and having rich friends. He had lunch with the aussie pm a couple of weeks ago, and his boss has more money than kevin rudd, but then i come home to boring melbourne and live in the suburbs. not saying i dont like it here, but ive found that i like the contrast, and my dad can have his money and so canhis friends, and im content with MY friends, so find some, be normal, accept that you ARENT rich and *pretend that youre father used his money to buy your love.* then youll be glad to live simply and just be yourself. be normal, dont be really loud all the time, DONT wear shorts that are up your **** with your legs freezing off in the middle of winter, and maybe you should concentrate more on school. sounds like private school wasnt too great for you anyway, public schools will teach you to become more common class and everything will be fine.

*what i did to try and understand why my dad was always in some foreign country* (except i think at some point my dad did actually admit to himself that thousands of dollars of presents wasnt going to work on me and tried to be "normal")

Answer 9

~Define Average Teenager~

I don't believe there is such a thing as an average teenager. This is the time when you are barely discovering who you are and what you want to be. Best advice I believe is to be yourself and discover yourself.

Answer 10

just be your self but maybe dont act like your a top class person

Answer 11

take it slow and find some friends... they'll help you

Answer 12

Adapt and learn ...... the lessons in life the other side of the coin may excite you.  

Don't worry too much about the things you own just the true friendships and support that you have.

Answer 13

Who's to say what's "average" or "normal"?

Answer 14

Wow, It's hard for me to say since I grew up as an "average teenager" I only dreamed about the things you speak of (though all of it being taken away wouldn't be part of it).

I would say to always be thankful for what you have, to think about the people who are less fortunate than you even in the situation you are in. Don't ever think that this world is limited or that anything is sparse but everything is in abundance, you just have to figure out the correct legal way to get it.

Answer 15

Hey, In the UK (where I come from) to be a "normal" teenager you should probably be 'sleeping around' trying to do all of the bases ASAP. Another thing which is considered is to go around swearing and making friends - who aren't really your friends.

I don't really follow this 'rule of thumb', I just go around doing what I have to do and I try to get as involved at school as possible - also I try to make some good friends who will stick with me forever, I think if you try to do this it will give you a real basis for life and you can turn to them for answers in anything.

But this whole answer has been revolved around being normal. But in today's world normal is nothing - to be someone you have to be abnormal, something special and from what you have said life is hard and this makes you something special, you have a story to make, and I am sure there are clubs at your school where you will find people who share common interests.

Hope this has been a good help - and good luck for the future

Henry :)

Answer 16

Get a job at as restaurant waiting.

Get involved with the latest fashions at school/college.

Get a 'common' boyfriend you find at a crummy club.

Use public transport.

Do the washing up.

Have arguements with your parents.

Wander around with your MP3/iPod in all the time.

Etc.

Answer 17

.......................BE YOURSELF........................

YOU CAN GET OVER IT....

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY IN THE END TILL THEN PRAY AND ASK GOD TO GUIDE YOU ALL THE WAY..

you dont have to do what everyone else is doing....

it might be hard to get used to it but you will

you have my prayers

hope i have helped

and dont forget to be yourself.

P.S: YOU DONT HAVE TO BE AVERAGE...YOU CAN BE EXTRAORDINARY!

Answer 18

be yourself and make some new friends

find a good church to go to

there is nothing wrong with target

maybe get a job somewhere or if your younger babysit then maybe u can still get hollister, a&f stuff sometimes

Answer 19

just be yourself, don't you rather be you then act like everyone else. if you act like everyone else then you will just blend in.

Answer 20

We are incredibly adaptive creature's I'm sure you'll find yourself acting like any Average person very soon, I wouldn't tell others about the wealth you used to have as this may cause jealousy. This could actually be beneficial for you as you will have a look at the "Real World"

Answer 21

There's never been anything "normal" in my life either,Im 16 and take care of my half brother,brother,and sister only because my dad in in jail and my mom does drugs.

So all I have to say is there is no such thing as a "normal teenager",just be yourself.

Answer 22

s***w about 100 guys and forget all their names by the time you're pregnant

sorry, but thats the life of an average teenager these days

Answer 23

Why do you wanna be average?????????everyone's different

Answer 24

just be yourself

Answer 25

you deserve your own tv show!

Answer 26

you dont need the normal american life to act normal, find it in yourself with the way you want to act,

i came from a fairly wealthy home as well but i never let it controll the way i think or live

so goodluck and snap out of it lol

dont grow up and do the wrong thing by wanting the old life back either

Answer 27

yeah, i know your saying that you dont want people to judge, but you sound like a spoiled brat! I dont care if people give me a thumbs down for this or anything, but you need to learn how to actually work a day in your life. I think its disgusting when people are spoiled like you. That makes me sick! Its even worse that people were hired to wait on you hand and foot. & yeah, maybe you do need to get a job, and since you hav never worked before, I would say working at McDonalds would do you some good! You are (previously) rich trash!

Answer 28

hmm well i am 13 making 14 next week and i just be myself! i read, study and be good. yea i get into fights with my dad(am a girl) but notin serious. i dont have or want a boyfriend and none of my friends have any(wen it comes to men we tell them got to h**l) and well basically some ppl call us nerds etc and goody goodies. but we just ignore them and get on with our lives, chill and have fun! be yourself girl and dont let noone bring u down!

Answer 29

Get bad grades in school, come home late from partying, and p**s your parents off.  This would be a great start.

Answer 30

there is no such thing as an average teenager. live your life how you want, don't follow crowds!

Answer 31

get some friends. a couple school years ago there was a new girl at my school. she came from a high class private school, she actually ASKED her dad to put her into a public school. kind of like u except not very very wealthy. just rich. lol. she acted very differently. but i guess after a while she caught on to how we all acted and what we did. now she's one of my best friends.

tips:

1. watch carefully at how other teens act.

2. don't talk about ur rich life. ppl will think ur a spoiled no-good brat.

3. try not to talk about the past. look into the future.

4. if u can't talk to ppl w/out talking the past, don't. just listen. many ppl have things to say.

5. get a friggin' job! u say that working isn't for u. well, deal w/ it. that's how life is. u have to work sometime in ur life. where do u think ur supposed to get money from?

6. there's somethin ALL teens do, normal or not. shopping. find some friends who r willing and go on a major spree.

7. find things that u like to do. try new things. find who u r.

8. if u don't like target, try wal-mart.

9. don't like taxi's? try walking, ride a bike, drive, carpool.

10. if life isn't working for u. too bad. life's already as normal as it gets.

may u get as much help as u need. be urself.