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Show OEST AND JOHN REINER “Boy, it you think nobody cares about you, tr: your homework two daysin a ro’ OWARD HUGE’ = Recently, I heardfrom a 17-year-old girl, whotold methefollowing story: One dayit was pouringrain, so 1 asked someonefora ride home—andoneof myfriends said sarcastically, “Why?Will yourhair get messed up?” Myfriends constantly tease me about having my hair and makeup done every day. I’m not Little Miss Perfect about my looks, but I do try to look decent. And I haveto stand up for myself every day at school about this.It’s sad. All I use is the regular—alittle foundation,a little eye shadow,a little eyeliner and mascara,a little blush, a little lipstick. | try to figure colors that coordinate—I have blondhair and green eyes,so little bit of green on the eyes. Or little bit of brown for an accent. I have naturally curly hair, so I use a diffuser to makeit nice and curly, and notfrizzy. Myfriends brushtheirhair and go. And because I get up an hourbefore schoolstarts and they get up 10 minutesbefore, it bothers them. Idon'tdo it to impress people. I don’t go walking around,“I’m beautiful. I have an ego.” doit because I feel I need to help myself, But every day they give mea real hard time aboutit. WhenI was younger, I didn’t have as muchas other people—myfriends had the name-brandclothes, even then. AndI had lot of hand-me-downs. Which was okay—I'm the youngestof seven children. And I never complained aboutit. I just tried to make my face and hair look bitbetter. That's all I had to work with. ButonceI do myhair in the moming,that'sit. I’m neverin the bathroom at school, making up. Or carryingall my hair makeup everywhere tofix it— I don’t carry brushes.I don’t carryhairspray. It’s just somethingI do in the momningto look decentfor the day. And they have this huge problem with it. Why? —danelle Panten, 17, Slinger, Wis. Teenagers: Whatis your advicefor Janelle? “ABUTS AREPREJEBICED AGAINST THRS” Recently, we heardfrom a 31-year-old woman in Washington, D.C., who has some strong opinions about this. Here’s what she said: I'm not a teenager anymore, but I still remember how angry itmade me teen to hear adults label all teens as rowdy, irresponsible or drupged-out.as a I was none of those things. Adults preach about how bad racism and sexism are, then we tum around and stereotype young people. It seems to me that many adults are a gainst teens as a class, and few people speak out about how that I = After alll, finaa tot of things i people complain i about teenagers doing doing are. ‘thingsthat adults do too—like drinking too much, engaging in reckless activities and negiecting their responsibilities. And, ofcourse, many teenagers are ext conscientious, polite and helpful. Paes eae a's rong with our culture i that we teatpeopleas babies "re 18—then alll a sudden they're supposed to beadults. since people can work and taxes at 16, I think should be able io vote at 16—t least for school bosed sand lout Teenagersshould have some say in how their high schools and lanes. communities are run. I would like to know what other readers—ieenagers and adulis—think this idea. of —dyotena Sreenivasan, 31, Washington, DC. DO PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU DIFFERENTLY OR TREAT YOU DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE? TELL US YOUR STORIES. “Can't you play something besides ‘Don't Get Around Much Anymore’?” Write Lynn Minton, Box 5103, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5103. Please include daytime phone number, the name of your school if & student, and, if you'd like, a picture weaddress, keep. Every letter is read—but.you're due to the volume of mail we receive, personalcan replies regrettably are not PAGE @ - JANUARY14, 1996 - PARADE MAGAZINE |
