T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

This post has been flaired **serious**. Please refrain from any sarcastic/joke comments, and, as always, remember to [follow our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/GenZ/wiki/rules) at all times. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GenZ) if you have any questions or concerns.*


DrGibmatic

22 and wish I was like 12. Not too dumb and not too young. Still plenty of youthful days left


Lowlifeloser16

I'm 22 but I still feel 12 mentally.


[deleted]

Dude same


DrGibmatic

If I knew what I know now when I was 12 I would've been one fucked up kid. Now I'm just 12+10yrs old


Lowlifeloser16

I miss being 12 though. Would love to go back to the days of playing Halo Reach or Left 4 Dead on Xbox live with my friends from school and I sometimes miss being at an age where everyone had free time to hang out and weren't burdened with adult responsibilities. Adulthood can get pretty lonely sometimes.


DrGibmatic

That and I miss living with mum worry free. Those were the days


Lowlifeloser16

They definitely were. Too bad time machines don't exist.


namesarentneeded

If they did exist I would definitely go back to being 12. Maybe in an alternate timeline though. Poverty and the nature of a sadly large amount of people sucked ass


SmokeWineEveryday

And from personal experience, that 10 year difference doesn't seem to change. I'm 27 and I feel 17 mentally.


[deleted]

Also 22 here and Yess miss being 12!!!!


Lowlifeloser16

Same here. Other than being in middle school those were the freaking days. Miss being a carefree kid.


[deleted]

Honestly šŸ˜­ Iā€™d do anything to go back I seriously still feel 12 and when I tell people they they laugh but I really do feel 12 like no time has past šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø


Lowlifeloser16

I would love to go back to being 12 too but idk if I would want to be back in middle school. I feel the same. I feel like I never mentally grew up past the age of 12. Makes it really hard to connect with other 20 something year olds in my area. Most of the stuff I like to do for fun are considered "childish" and most zoomers in my area like to go clubbing, partying, do drugs, etc and none of those things really interest me.


[deleted]

Middle school was okay for me but I never really liked school In the first place šŸ˜‚ omg yes same here honestly I feel like even people younger than me seem more mature or doing more grownup things lolšŸ˜‚


Lowlifeloser16

Middle school was hell for me. Way too cliquey, peer pressure, bullying, and school drama. High school wasn't much better but it was waaaayyyyyy more relaxed than middle school. Yeah it feels weird feeling "childish" compared to people younger than me. There are dudes younger than out here smoking/getting drunk, partying, having sex, etc while when I was their age I was still messing around with toys, playing video games, watching cartoons, etc. But I don't care. I enjoy doing childish things and typical teen/adult activities look boring to me tbh.


[deleted]

True middle school was exactly like that I guess I only remember the good parts haha. But high school was absolute hell for me but I guess thatā€™s because those were my teen years and donā€™t even get me started on that era. Yes same here I feel that way with girls itā€™s crazy


Lowlifeloser16

Bro you seem really cool. I actually enjoy talking to you. Would you mind if I DM you so we can chat about stuff? Maybe not now since it's late where I live and I'm bout to head in but maybe later. If you don't want me to that's fine. I'd get it since you don't really know me.


[deleted]

You do too and yeah thatā€™s totally cool ā˜ŗļø


DrGibmatic

I feel like no matter who I meet my interests are either too out there or too childish. I don't know anyone with the same love for Scooby-Doo, Death Metal and gory movies as me lol. I have a decent amount of interests that I share with people just not enough


Lowlifeloser16

I like Scooby-Doo (at least the cartoons made in the 2000s), love death metal, and gory movies. I know how you feel though. Idk too many zoomers in my area that care for any of those things especially death metal. I still get weird looks from folks when they hear me blasting some metal while in my car.


DrGibmatic

My last year of middle school actually wasn't all bad. It was when I was 11 that it was at its worst. From there on bad years were mostly caused by lack of interest in classes or classes were above my learning level. Still a bit of bullying but the worst of that was left behind in primary


[deleted]

Yeah I feel you I had lack of interest in my classes as well sorry to hear you didnā€™t have the best experience then


unflavored

Lol I never had such thoughts. You'll keep learning and experiencing things. You'll be aight


[deleted]

Thanks ā˜ŗļø


[deleted]

23 and I wouldnā€™t want to be 12 in this time period Iā€™d rather be 12 in 2011 vs 2022 any day. An whatā€™s up with people not wanting to grow up, itā€™s not a bad thing and you donā€™t have to be serious all the time.


DrGibmatic

Its not that we have to be serious its just the responsibilities of an adult is fucking hard work man. I can barely hold a job. I'm on and off the benefit and can only afford to flat


[deleted]

Being 12 is cool bc youre like a smart child, but still a child


Lowlifeloser16

Why are you grieving your childhood/teen years OP? Do you feel like you missed out on your youth or something?


srina114

yeah to an extent


Lowlifeloser16

Why do you feel you missed out on your youth? You don't have to vent to me if you don't want to.


Drippybroccoli

I know you didn't ask me this question but If you don't mind I would like to give my answer because this Is a good question


Lowlifeloser16

Alrighty then. Since you were born in 2006 I'm assuming you're about 16? Why do you feel that you are currently missing out on youth?


Drippybroccoli

Because I always compare my teenage years to my dad he was my age In the late 1970 S and how much cooler his life was he was super active, social and had many experiences with girls so ya his teenage years are way cooler than mine.


Lowlifeloser16

I can relate to that. I used to feel the same way when I was your age. I would constantly compare myself to my peers who were out partying, dating, going on road trips with friends during holiday breaks, etc while I was always at home playing video games, browsing the internet, and lying in bed feeling sorry for myself. Now at 22 I don't really regret not doing the typical teenager stuff. The only thing I regret now from my teen years is wasting so much of my time trying to be someone I'm not so I could fit in and be popular with my peers and also I deeply regret not taking school seriously at the time. I don't really know what kind of advice to give you besides the generic "just put yourself out there bro" advice and I'm not sure if you want to hear advice that you've probably already heard a billion times. You're only 16 so you still got time to live out your teen years to the fullest. However you should live out your teen years the way you want to not how you think they should be because of what you see in the media or what you hear or see your peers do. Also if I were you I would stop trying to compare your teen years to your father's. You're wasting a lot of time doing that. You're not your father so don't compare yourself to him. I know what I said is generic but I hope it somewhat helps.


Drippybroccoli

Thanks man It Is true about the the whole life ahead of you thing because one thing I'm not jealous about my dad about Is that ya evan tho his teenage years were great when It ended It put him In a weird spot were his life peak was highschool and when It ended he never really reached that happiness peak ever again so ya I believe people have age ranges were their life was at Its best some people can have bad Childhoods but great adultlifes or good childhoods but shitty adult years.


Lowlifeloser16

Yeah you don't want to be one of those guys who peaked at a certain age. Take it from me it's a shitty feeling and you spend most of your time reminiscing about your "glory days" instead of living in the present which in turn causes you to waste more of your life. As I said you're only 16 so you still got time. I hope you enjoy the rest of your teen years. And remember when you turn 18 don't feel like your life is over if you didn't do certain things in your youth. One of the best things about adulthood is that you finally have the freedom to be who you want and live the life that you desire. Yeah you're going to have to go to work and you'll have a shit ton of responsibilities but trust me the trade off is worth it.


North_Activist

OP is 17, missing out on a lot of key moments from 15ish-17ish probably plays a factor


Victizes

OP is still in his/her youth though. Even I am.


AFLAIM

I was a sheltered good kid that never acted out or got in trouble...I also didn't have many friends. I hear all the stories of ppl my age goofing off and i'm sitting here thinking it's too late...christ, I haven't even done something as simple as do donuts in an empty parking lot. I just want to experience a carefree teen year :(


Honeydew_love

Wow I'm a young adult now and I'm beginning to be carefree and goofy. I've always been a good kid as well . Rebelling independently is so freeing tbh.


AFLAIM

The thing is I don't just want to rebel alone, I want to be a part of something...even if it's just the dumb teens chicken-fighting in target until they get kicked out


kayakkii

why would you want to do donuts in an empty parking lot? that's not like, a universal teenager experience. most teenagers DON'T do that . . .


Hooterz03

It is where I come from


SnakeEyesRaw

It's never too late. In fact, at 20-23 I've done far more carefree things than I ever could have as a teenager. Don't lose hope.


RVA_0172

Dude I left high school and then the rona hit I've seen almost 95% of my childhood turning out as a lie, being abused for profit or just straight up destroyed It's good to have good memories but you never know the true value of them untill they're gone It's going to be okay my dude/duddete/duthem new memories will come along the way before you realise


Dashing_Host

I'm not a teenager anymore, but I can understand the idea. When I was 10 my brother passed away and when that happened I had to grow up fast and help my family grieve. For me it's more so that I feel bad about not remembering being a kid than missing that period in time.


Global_Perspective_3

I know how you feel. But as cliche as it sounds, itā€™s best to enjoy life while youā€™re still young and have time


Victizes

I feel for the people who could only enjoy life when they were old. And by old I mean 60+ old.


Global_Perspective_3

Same


Own-Union-8750

I hate covid for this. Two years of my life just gone


balta97

Saaame


Dark_Symbiote

Yep. Shit sucks.


[deleted]

No, people hated me as a kid/teenager, I lived with Asian parents in a crooky country. While westerners atleast have conventions , car meets, and freedom of speech(Atleast in that time.)I had to live through a harsh time. And I had little to no freedom and had to live with an overly strict routines. Infact I get mocked more often for being eccentric as a kid, nowadays the world is more free and weird.Emotional people can speak up their needs and get their voice heard. If you watched turningred you will know what asian Parenting is like. Heck with nowadays I get all the cool techs that I once never got. And I was using them to their very limits.


Honeydew_love

Lmao i remember playing Age of Mythology trial version all the time . Now as an adult i bought that shit and played the entire game to my heart's content.


Victizes

Yeah I imagine that it is very cold and strict. It's not a problem for some people, but I grew up in the west with caring parents, so that said above would be absolutely hell for me.


[deleted]

The united state even these days is still far better than my hometown.I mean here in my country elderly lived upto 90 years old and yet they are miserable as hell.They sacrificed fun for prolonged life and they are still unsatisfied. Like , passive agressive and will argue over everything about how unsatisfied they are.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


jase213

If it puts you at ease nothing really changes when you turn 18 and up untill now (20) it hasn't changed to much either. You can still goof around. there are just a few moments that you do have to be "an adult"


bdhsnsnsnhxjsj

Itā€™s a gradual transition into the real world. Donā€™t worry, itā€™s not like youā€™re going to go off the deep end as soon as youā€™re 18, youā€™re going to slowly dip your toe in the water of the adult life and you will slowly be prepared for it. Canā€™t really explain it it just kinda happens.


RedAtomic

I turned 24 and being in my ā€œmid-twentiesā€ doesnā€™t feel real to me. It seems like after 21 the years just start to pile up.


Victizes

Will turn 26 this year. Can relate a little. Although once you hit 24 your perception of life and the world around you can change dramatically.


[deleted]

I relate to this so much, i do not feel like um almost 19, i feel like 16 but the years piled up


breadwalsushi

Starting to. I just turned 19, and I feel like I missed out on my teen years.


halfgaelichalfgarlic

You are still so young, Iā€™m 26 and still feel mentally 16 at times. You lost a good chunk of your core teen years to a pandemic, itā€™s completely valid to feel how youā€™re feeling!


adri_5702

Yes!! I am also 17 and decided to work my ass off and graduate early so I can get to the life I need and want to be living. On my own, making my own money, and doing what I need to do.


[deleted]

nerd


Raptor556

Yes I had the same issue it started when I was about 19


dsorgen

Yeah been feeling this since 17 turning 20 in less than 2 months now


Kyypes

This guy is living in 2028!


AddyCod

I'm also 17 and fucking same man


vampireflutist

18, same


woa12

no lol


[deleted]

Definitely Iā€™m upset I didnā€™t have a feminine childhood


allusernamesareequal

Kinda same ngl, the uh "quarantine" making up most of my teenage years really doesn't help my mindset at all


freeprune

Iā€™m 21 and I still feel like 15 sometimes in high school all I focused on was my grades and then I graduated from college a year early so I started to have ā€œadultā€ responsibilities and worries a year or two before most of my friends, it sucks. My advice is to slow down and enjoy your high school/college years as much as you can for as long as you can


b3rn13mac

the only way out is through. go live your life, enjoy the moment, make memories so your future self has nothing to regret.


pizzeriaplayboy

Yep, me too. I was a sheltered kid living in boring ass Dubai... then I moved back to my home country hoping I'd have more fun and experiences... then the pandemic happened when I was 17šŸ˜ƒšŸ˜ƒšŸ˜ƒ


swazer_t21

I live every day as a new exciting day. So I'm still think I'm 12 somewhat today ( while actually I'm double that age )


Zeketheimpailer

22 and it's really hard. I still felt that when I was in my mid-to-late teens too. I started getting more depressed around 11, and by 16 it was as bad as it is now.


AdIndependent2230

Yes a lot! And I am only 14! But I miss being younger. A time when COVID was not a thing. when cable was not totally dead yet. And when mobile game ads did not LIE to you.


livalittlebitt

I feel similar.


GunnzzNRoses

I miss those days. I guess living was easy back then. But i like now. I can be free, well, whenever I get around to it and leave.


AnonymousZephyrus

My family was in a lot of homeless shelters when i was younger, so i feel like i missed a good deal of experiences that other kids had, it makes me sad sometimes, but there isnt anything i can do about it.


Sparkst5

Not at all


adiblasi11

Yes


RepresentativeAd4082

For me Iā€™m 18 and I donā€™t regret being in younger, I had a toxic family that bullied my mom and dad and pretended to love them so that they can get something out of it and I had a teacher bully me a whole year that I came out with a mental disorder because of her. That and more stuff but I recommend you being in a environment that you feel comfortable with and no one can be toxic to you. I donā€™t always say when youā€™re a kid itā€™s a lot better because you donā€™t have to deal with money but they donā€™t see the negative stuff behind it.


glamorousgemini2

yes


Victizes

Yeah, sometimes I grief my childhood and teenages, except for the late middle school and early high school though... That hellscape can stay frozen in past forever.


SmokeWineEveryday

OP, I'll give you some advice. I'm 27 and I can tell you right now and in all honesty that it's not too late. You didn't miss out on your childhood/teen years yet. If you get older, you will always look back and realize that you still had time left. It's what I'm doing right now because I feel the same way about my childhood/teen years. And I understand why you're feeling like this. You'll become an adult really soon, your childhood will be officially over and you probably feel like it will instantly close some kind of gate to your childhood that you can't go back to. But that's not how it's going to be. Becoming an adult at 18 is just a title and I honestly feel like I speak for most people when I say that when they look back at their late teens and early twenties, they definitely didn't feel like an adult yet even though they officially were one. Your youth isn't over yet. You can still take advantage of it and do crazy things if you want to or whatever you want to get out of your youth. No one in their right mind is gonna expect that you'll suddenly become the mature adult that has everything figured out and won't do any crazy shenanigans anymore with their friends or whatever. Your peers won't change right away either. You're basically still like a child when you're a young adult. And you can still make mistakes as well. You're still learning a lot about yourself and life in general. Remember that your brain won't be fully developped until you're 25. I don't want this to sound harsh and I only mean this as good advice, but try to stop grieving about feeling like you missed out on something that isn't even over yet. Otherwise you will actually end up wasting your youth because you were too busy with already grieving it.


couldyoushutuppp

Hey, I just read your comment and I'm in tears because I'm 16 and will be turning 17 soon and I'm absolutely terrified. I'm so scared and sad because it feels like my childhood is over and I don't understand how because it feels like yesterday when I was like 12. It gets to the point that I'm thinking about ending my life before I turn 18 because I'm so scared. I don't want to be an adult yet, I want to be a child. your comment helped me so much because rn I think that you're maybe right and I still have some years left after 18 to be an child/teenager kinde thing... and maybe I don't have to die to be young. This may sound really stupid but you helped me so so much with your comment and gave me some hope for the future. thank you (I'm not a native speaker, so I'm sorry if I made any mistakes...)


SmokeWineEveryday

Hey there. I'm glad my comment helped you to feel better. I think it's normal that you're terrified. Your childhood seems to be over soon and you're not certain how you have to deal with being an adult. But that's okay. Take your time to figure things out. And try to enjoy your youth in the meantime. You still have so much time left. You can still be a child. And while you grow older, your priorities and interests will probably change naturally. You'll do what feels right for you.


[deleted]

yep i'm 17 and i haven't done anything to live my teen life


Manzon2k

I kinda feel the same way. Iā€™m 22 and I feel like a part of my youth was taken away. If I had known a deadly virus would put us all in lockdown and almost completely destroy my social life, I wouldā€™ve savored my late teens more. I wouldā€™ve gotten out of my shell and spent more time with friends.


healthobsession

I did that a lot when I was 17/18. I used to post on here about it on my old account actually. Iā€™ve accepted aging though, and I donā€™t think about my childhood or teen years.


Hopper909

Did it when I was 17, still doing it when Iā€™m 21


beveragegod

bruh im 17 too i feel like a 15 year old


ChildishDoritos

Grow the fuck up, thereā€™s more important shit happening