EXPRESSION: MIND
The Kids Are Alright _____________
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Story and Art by Asael Reyes
veryone finds themselves at one point trying to unravel the mind of a teenager - whether it is a parent trying to understand their child, a psychologist trying to help a youth, or a teen trying to find reasoning for their actions. During adolescense, a child grows to understand the meaning of holding responsibility and being mature, but before that one must first go through their own journey to find their truth and their identity. It sounds clichéd but it’s true, these are the years when a person finds their place in the world. First, though, one needs to experience the possibilities of what their identities can be. This is where many parents find themselves struggling to understand their child’s mind, because teenagers may begin to rebel, act out in school or at home, and experiment with different identities. Parents, don’t panic. Believe it or not, it is healthy for a teenager to undergo these phases. With a supporting home and the dedication of the parents, a teenager can find their way out of the harmful phases (such as drugs). When I asked Sabina Ocampo if it’s clear to her family that she expresses herself she said, “No, no. They think that I’m a tender kind of kid. They don’t know that I’m outgoing, they think I’m shy.” When I asked her if she was expressive herself she replied, “No, I’m just normal.” I asked another teen, Christian Vasquez, if he was very open with his form of expression, “Yes, because 10
Vision 411/ Fall 2012
I am a very outgoing person,” he replied. “Other people know that I express myself very outwardly.” I asked him if his family supported his way of expression. “Yeah, it’s awesome to do it for myself but when other people see it and they also acknowledge the hard work that I put into it, I feel like it gives me a