Being Adolescent: On the Wild Side

By Wander

EDI 17 Psychology & Development of Adolescent Students

School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 10, 2010

Thinking back on my adolescent years I have lost track of all the endless stupid / wild things I have done; all I know is that they were a result of a series of bad choices and decisions. One of the most remembered is when I was 16 years old, (I always “hung” out with older people), a friend of mine (20yrs old) was going on a company trip to Puerto Rico; she told me that “someone in the company “backed out” at the last minute and they have an extra ticket”, and I can go. I was excited, all I had to do was say I was 19 and tell my mother that I was going with my friend and her father (an easy task, my mom never really questioned what I did and she did not really know my friend’s parents).

So I went a few days later! I did not question a thing, I just went. I assumed I was going to share a room with my “friend” (mistake #1), she had other plans. I had to share a room with her boss (a thirty-four year old man); I was so scared because I knew what he expected in return. I ran to the room my friend and a co-worker (a man) was staying in. She told me not to worry and I am over exaggerating.

As I looked around the room I realized, that my friend and the man were doing drugs (cocaine). They asked me to try it, I said no, and immediately left. I did not know what to do; I was all the way in Puerto Rico, and had no one to turn to. I was embarrassed and afraid to call my mom, or reveal my real age. So I stayed (mistake #2). I told my friends boss I was aware of his attentions and it was not “gonna” happen, he was annoyed (brave and stupid on my behalf). I was lucky, he never forced himself on me and he got another room.

For the rest of the vacation I really did not speak to anyone. I hung out by myself. Looking back on this situation I obviously did not put much thought into what was going to happen or where I was going to stay, which was very foolish of me. The decisions I made were definitely not the best ones and they put me in a very dangerous situation; on the other hand I did make some wise choices. I did not give into peer pressure or influences of others. This was definitely a learning experience; it made me wiser and thoughtful in future decisions and choices I made.