This Teen's Life: An Introduction

Today I found myself very lost in a small space.

The building I was lost in was no larger than your average store at the mall. However, I feel familiar and at home within the confines of those walls lined with clothes, accessories and shoes. 

I am unfamiliar within the walls where I stood today; walls lined with posters of smiling, pregnant couples ready for their first mortgage and young-ish people standing in front of little Hondas and giant numbers followed by three letter acronyms I do not understand (1.99% APR anyone?).

I was opening up my first checking and savings account at a local bank.  I realized, shoot.  I have a lot to learn before I can grow up and stop sucking at life. 

And that is why I am writing this column. 

I am 18 years old and a senior at Robinson Secondary School.  I am the editor-in-chief of the Valor Dictus, Robinson’s school paper, so I have some experience in the journalism field. In the fall, I will head on down to UVA, where I will do some studying of the humanities and will be attending some parties.  Pretty typical. What makes me different me from the average teen is my stubbornness and my tendency to appreciate those things off the beaten path.  I hold strong opinions.  Don’t tread on me.

So while I am stumbling through banks and googling what APR stands for (Annual Percentage Rate), I will be writing this column conveying the informed opinions of someone who still has a lot to learn. Paradox? No.  The more I have to learn, the more I have to research.  The more I have to research, the more informed I am. Being better-informed means I can formulate a stronger opinion; and that will lead to a more interesting column.

I will be covering topics I read about in the paper, trends, what-have-you, taking on a fresh, sometimes devil’s advocate perspective.  Most of what I plan to write about will relate back to teens. I have to stay true to my youth. But whatever it is I write about will not only provide insight into my point of view, but also will give me some guidance on how the heck to navigate through that dang bank.