How To Not Be A Regular Teenage Girl | Teen Ink

How To Not Be A Regular Teenage Girl

June 30, 2010
By MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.


I’ve written an article about how to be different, yes. But this is different: this is how to NOT be regular. Is it the same thing? Perhaps. But I’m writing about it anyway.

NUMBER ONE: DON’T ACT STUPID
It’s not cute to act stupid. Seriously, it’s not. It’s ridiculous, and, well...stupid! It’s actually quite the tragedy how many other girls I know who are convinced if they’re stupid, they’ll get a boyfriend! And since honesty is the best policy (ha), it must help, because all these girls who are giggle, giggle, “I’m so stupid!” DO have boyfriends. For those WANTING boyfriends, I am NOT encouraging you to go act like a blazing idiot to get some attention...because, that’s why they do it; to get attention. But anyway, if you get a boyfriend because you act like you don’t know how to spell your own last name...yeah, he probably doesn’t like you for your personality.

NUMBER TWO: WEAR REAL CLOTHING
I honestly don’t know how they do it. You see these girls with their underwear length shorts and God forbid they purchase a shirt that’s not skin tight. Again, I guess it’s an attention thing...I can’t imagine it’s for comfort or something of likeness. Really, I do give them a few points for being confident enough, but there’s this wonderful thing called modesty (and dignity) that they should invest in.

NUMBER THREE: PRY THE CELLULAR FROM THE EAR
This one really bothers me. I’m guilty of texting when I shouldn’t be (call me a hypocrite; you wouldn’t be wrong) but there are just times when the cell phone is not needed. For example, at a museum, on a vacation, in school, perhaps? Hate to sound like your great grandmother, but it’s true. I’ve seen many people texting and giggling at places like art museums and on school field trips. I guess it’s pretty fun to talk to your friend via text, especially the one standing right next to you, but when you have a chance to see the world, see things you’ve never seen before, take that chance for all it’s worth.

NUMBER FOUR: DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE
This is going to sound like an oxymoron before I explain, but bear with me: don’t have a social life. Okay, now close the gaping mouth, and stop inching for the back button. What I mean is, have a life of your own, outside your buddies. If your best friend doesn’t want to see that movie you really, REALLY want to watch then go by yourself. You need friends, but you don’t need them with you all the time. Take time for yourself. If you seriously aren’t all that flirty-flirty but your friend wants to drag you to her latest eye candy’s baseball game so you can sweet talk a little, then refuse. Yeah, sometimes you have to give in. Life isn’t always what you wanted, so you’ll have to live through a few painful, awkward events. But don’t be a doormat and do what you want.

NUMBER FIVE: HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN
Three things I associate regular teenage girls with: boys, Hollister, and cell phones. So you’re shy, you like to make your own clothes, and you can’t text to save your life. So, what now? Obviously, you don’t change a thing! You are who you are and that’s good enough for me. Think for yourself (see my other article, 6 Ways To Be Yourself –if it posts, that is), have an opinion, and do what’s right. (I FEEL A QUOTE COMING ON: “Stand up for what’s right, even if you’re standing alone.” –that poster by the school bathroom) So, if your friends don’t like it, find some new friends.
And whatever you do, don’t settle for “regular.”


The author's comments:
Some quotes that really don't relate to the article a lot, but I like them...they're about controversy:

"Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of "crackpot" than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost." --Thomas J. Watson

"If it matters, it produces controversy." --Jay Greene

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." --MLKJ

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This article has 12 comments.


on Jul. 19 2010 at 9:52 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

I understand what you mean, and I think having a mind of your own IS doing what you want, whether other people like it or not. And, hey, if other people WANT to fit in and be regular, they can go ahead and do it!

Thank you x1000 for commenting! :)


on Jul. 19 2010 at 9:50 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

And thank you for telling me I inspire people.

*basks in the compliment*

Kidding...I'm not THAT arrogant. ;)

Anyway, thank you for commenting!


juliette said...
on Jul. 18 2010 at 9:26 am
juliette, Gdynia, Other
0 articles 1 photo 18 comments

I see you've written some brilliant stuff here!

I totally agree about the clothing issue. Some girls don't even look well in their tight clothes, but they are so blinded by the fashion that they can't refrain.

And having a mind of your own - that's never gonna happen. You say whatever everyone else says, you read what's in (usually the magazines that have more photos than letters), listen to whatever everyone else listens to. If you don't, you're gonna be excluded from most of the society. It's obviously your choice what you do with it -  I chose to have fun.

5 thousand stars for you!


on Jul. 13 2010 at 2:56 pm
toxic.monkey SILVER, Tashkent, Other
6 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Homo homini lupus"

I love your writing style here!

Plus I agree. I admit I've never had a boyfriend, but I never act like a dumb brunette for anyone, although I do see how guys seem to hate being less clever than their girlfriends. Stupid in my opinion :P I think it's good advice too. So thanks for inspiring people!


on Jul. 10 2010 at 6:48 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

Awwww, thanks!

:D


on Jul. 10 2010 at 6:19 pm
kfrog575 BRONZE, Santa Clara, California
1 article 0 photos 11 comments
THIS IS AMAZING!!! :D You make a great point.. I wish everyone at my school would think this way. :) Keep writing awesomeness!

on Jul. 10 2010 at 12:38 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

First, thanks for commenting :)

Second, I completely understand what you mean. I'm the same way. Why be social when that's not what you want to be?

Thanks again!


on Jul. 10 2010 at 7:17 am
Still_Waters26 SILVER, Ladysmith, Wisconsin
6 articles 0 photos 88 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We few, we happy few/we band of brothers/For he to-day that sheds his blood with me/Shall be my brother"
-Shakespeare, "Henry V"

This is a great article.  And I can identify exactly what you mean by girls who all do the same thing so they won't stand out.  It's like their conformed or hypnotized.  Thing is, I'm not really a social bug but I'm deep and I'm always thinking about deep stuff.  Lots of my peers (and my two siblings) are really social and lots of times it kinda makes me feel outcasted, oddballish.  But it's better than acting social while knowing that's not who I am.  I'd much rather be alone where I want to be then with a lot of people in a place I don't want to be.

on Jul. 7 2010 at 11:36 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

Thank you much-ly!

^.^


on Jul. 7 2010 at 11:35 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't be a victim; be a titan.

Thank you very much :3

Joyce said...
on Jul. 7 2010 at 10:47 pm
Hey great piece by the way! I enjoy your unique voice that you put in. I agree with you: teen girls nowadays are wanting to look old and feel old. Like an adult old, mature. But before all the fashion and makeup. personality and your character must be mature. But anyway...who wants to be an adult now? Enjoy life, girls, because this is the only chance you'll have as a child. Embrace childhood, cause once you're old, you'll regret. Play in the rain, climb a tree, open that box of dolls and stuffed animals, play pretend, hold a game of hide and seek, be a kid! Before the reality of colleges and jobs sets in.

xxzoE SILVER said...
on Jul. 7 2010 at 3:51 am
xxzoE SILVER, Ringwood East, Other
7 articles 5 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher

girl you read my mind. I love being by myself or god forbid my mum. I love going for walks by myself and seeing those art house movies that i couldn't get a friend to come with me if i had to save my life. 

Also that stupid point is great. At my school it seems that if you have a personality well your "so not in". It drives me crazy when girls giggle when the say something so stupid.  Last week a girl in my class asked me and my friend if the titanic was a real story. Our jaws hit the floor. He almost passed out when he heard that. He loves all things titanic.

And what is it with girls wanting to show off their stomachs and belly piercings. Don't get me wrong, i have some great friends but I am the only one who hasn't pierced myself- apart from 2 in my ears which i don't even wear- but its just not  a great look. No one should see your belly button any where else but the beach. If they do well girl you have a problem.

Well written!!