The Voice of the Omniscient Editor-in-Chief

When was the last time I felt like a teenager? Last Friday at Fatin’s Raya Open House. Why? Because I got to play dodgeball with the seniors and juniors and run about screaming my head off on somebody else’s property. After I had completely exhausted myself and was sitting down to observe the still ongoing game, I had to conclude – while Fatin’s two cheeky kid brothers were hurling balls at one another and the two family cats were whirling about in collective excitement across the lawn – that life as a teenager doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom. As I witnessed the bonding between the seniors and juniors (it had also happened at the Open House organised by the juniors the evening before), it was easy to understand that adolescence is the one phase where we acquire friends, keep and cherish them until our memories of our former, younger selves fade. There is no other period in our short lives where friendships are so easily made and stored away for the harsh winters ahead.
 
So why is it that most teenagers don’t recognise happiness even if it slaps them in the face? It’s hard to be objective, of course, when your parents, siblings, teachers, peers, society, and the world are constantly implying that you don’t measure up. Pressure demystifies an age which is supposed to be all about smiling flowers and sunny weather. But what a shame! Once adolescence has slipped into the past (and it certainly will), a whole new world of pressure will open up. You’ll get to deal with, among others, the house mortgage, taxation, political choices, relationship problems, health issues, work-related dilemmas, performance anxiety, inferiority complexes, spousal feuds, the schooling and general well-being of your children, the rebelliousness of the self-same children, the deaths of friends, the loss of youth, mental retardation, spiritual crises… the list goes on. In short, stop putting off happiness. Michael Cunningham says it best in The Hours about happiness: “That was the moment, right then. There has been no other.” The sooner we realise this, the sooner we can start living.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the discussion topic of “Teen Angst” has opened up that proverbial can of worms and enticed lots – and I mean lots – of people to respond. I have done my best to include everyone’s opinions and voices here. As always, our appreciation goes to Paul (Amsterdam), Khairil, Lewis, Pratik, Azhar, Masukor, Surain, Aimran, Yati, Azlan, Afandi, Eugene, Sheril, Zuraida, Hakim, Izzudin, Akmal and Fatin.


This is the last issue of Opinionated Monthly for the year 2009. We shall return in full glory in February 2010.

Edward Ong, November 09
“Stop staring at my face asking me what happened, people. I have a severe allergic reaction to exams!”

- Diana Damin, 3rd KLIMUN Delegate of Malaysia
-   
Yes, exam season is upon us once again. While some of you may already be partying away, the rest of us are still suffering under the cloud of terror that is the mock examinations and final year examinations. So what is it about exams that get us so riled up? Is it really a grudgingly difficult thing to face or are we just being teenagers, getting worked up again about something relatively unimportant?
Conveniently enough, the topic of this month’s issue is “Teen Angst”. So is it myth or fact?  Some scientists seem to believe the reason why teenagers behave the way they do is biological – think hormones, people. A study done by Dr. Rachel Andrew on teen moodiness revealed that it is a result of a mix of hormonal and physiological changes. “It is a time when someone is moving from childhood to adulthood and that throws up a lot of big issues,” says Andrew. “They move away from being solely dependent on their parents and place a greater reliance on their friends.” That would lead us however to another problem – should teenagers then be blamed for being the way they are? What is your opinion? Turn to the discussion pages to see what others have said on this contentious issue.
On another note, it appears that this issue will be my final publication as Deputy Editor of Opinionated Monthly. I would like to thank everyone who worked tremendously hard on every issue for the past seven months. Considering the intense hardships the IB gives us, it really means a lot that we still persevere to get an issue out every month. Congratulations to the Editorial Staff and as for the newbies replacing us, I wish you good luck!

    For the last time,
Azam Ismail
Deputy Editor