I am a teenage girl. I am irresponsible. I am a slut. I am a drug addict. I am an alcoholic. I am stupid. I am a clotheshorse. I do not know the difference between right and wrong, right?
             This is what the media and society and the government have been telling me ever since October 21, 1998 (when I turned 13). At least it is what an uninformed, non-citizen of these United States has gathered. However, like my biology teacher once said, "You are society." So, that means I can try to change it, right?
             Wrong. "Try" is the operative word, folks. I can "try" as much as I darned well please. It still does not seem to make much of a difference.
             Every time I read an article in the newspaper about my peers, it describes us as amoral idiots. We all do drugs. We all drink and drive. We all cuss like sailors. We all are disrespectful. Funny, I don't do drugs and don't drink, and neither do many of my friends. I'm not old enough to drive, and thanks to graduated licensing, that won't be happening in a while. My own mother cusses more than I do. I also respond to adults that I respect (meaning they aren't asinine and ignorant) with "sir" or "ma'am". So why do I keep getting labeled like this? It must be that I am the only exception, right?
             Wrong. I know for a fact that there are plenty of teens out there like me. They are either my closest friends, or I would like them to be. Then why do I feel like I am being pinned up to a bulletin board next to other specimens titled "Average Teen"?
             This is great, actually. It makes me laugh. In a sick, twisted way, this is hilarious. The same system that told me that I am original as a young child now shoves me into a metaphoric jar with everybody else. And it certainly is a party up in here, let me tell you. Woo, watch me dance. But I digress...
             I just want to know why am I being grouped? It makes me feel trap
             ...