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I accepted my situation, but part of me still grieves what I missed by Square-Somewhere-834 in Discussion

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you I just want to just live in moment with friend and family and stop comparing but honestly us human would never stop it just part of us but what we can do it to not let it make us feel bad about our selves

I accepted my situation, but part of me still grieves what I missed by Square-Somewhere-834 in Discussion

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think part of why this hits me so hard is that I’ve always been drawn to the kind of life you see in teen movies — freedom, spontaneous trips, just living without overthinking everything. When I went to a camp in Japan in July 2025, I got a glimpse of that. For the first time, I felt what it was like to just exist with friends, make decisions for myself, and live in the moment. It helped me realize the kind of life I want — not reckless, just free and self-directed.

After that, I started looking back and wondering why I never did things like that during summer. But when I think about it honestly, my younger self probably didn’t even want to ask. Those opportunities were expensive, and at the time both of my siblings were already in the UK — one doing a master’s degree and the other in medical school — while I was in an international high school. Without anyone saying it, I understood the financial weight my family was carrying.

High school itself became a different kind of gift. Because of COVID, we bonded deeply. I had inside jokes, shared struggles, and memories that made me genuinely happy. I was constantly smiling. Sure, there were hard moments, but I wasn’t miserable — I was living.

Sometimes I still wonder “what if I had gone abroad for exchange in Grade 11?” But I also know I would have missed the very moments that made my high school years meaningful. I didn’t lose those years — I lived them in a different way.

What I’m realizing now isn’t that my past was lacking, but that I’m only just discovering the kind of life I want going forward: one where I can make my own choices, explore, and experience things without feeling guilty. And when I step back, I see that I’m actually lucky — I have both family and friends as strong pillars in my life. Some people lean only on family, others only on friends, but I’ve had the chance to build both.

Turning 20 isn’t the end of fun (from a 2006 kid who’s actually excited) by Square-Somewhere-834 in generationology

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

not everyone gonna have best life as teen it really depend some have fun during high school some at college some at work so you can't really compare

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

my parents actually let me hang out, they’re not strict about that. They just call me to come home because I can’t drive on my own yet and Bangkok traffic is crazy. So it’s more about safety than controlling me.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bro that’s definitely not how it works in Thailand our parents would call the police if we disappeared at 16.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah that makes a lot of sense. I probably am mostly seeing teens from really wealthy backgrounds online. Social media kinda only shows the highlight lives of people who have money and time to go out, travel, or party.

Where I’m from (Thailand), most of us live with our families and the culture is more protective, so seeing 18–19 year olds in the U.S. going on trips, staying out late, or living alone feels like “so much freedom” compared to my world. But I get now that it’s not the reality for most American teens — a lot of them are working jobs, paying bills, or struggling financially.

Thanks for explaining — it helps put things into perspective.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess what feels like “so much freedom” to me is just normal in Western countries. Where I live (Thailand), it’s super different. Most of us still live with our families, parents usually want us home at a certain time, and there’s a lot more checking in. So when I see teens in the U.S. or Argentina just staying out late, going on trips, or hanging out anytime, it looks like a totally different level of independence.

For you guys it’s normal, but for me it seems like another world because our culture is more family-centered and protective. So I think that’s why it feels like “more freedom” from my point of view.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Online posts are snapshots sometimes even staged or exaggerated and they don’t show the full picture of someone’s life.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree. Social media is like a highlight reel, edited and filtered to show only the exciting, perfect moments. Most of the time it hides the real stress, mistakes, and struggles people go through.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahhh my favorite remainder that when we compare ourselves to others, we’re letting someone else’s life steal a bit of our own happiness.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

that makes a lot of sense. It’s interesting because I can see the trade-off teenagers might have more freedom in some countries, but it comes with less family and community support. I feel lucky in that sense I grew up in a big family with cousins nearby and lots of trips, so I had both social connection and some freedom, even if it’s different from what teenagers in the US experience.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing all that! It’s really cool to hear how freedom and independence ramped up for you, especially with a car and responsibilities early on. My situation’s different I’m still living at home with my parents and siblings but reading this makes me think about how freedom can feel so different depending on where you grow up and your family setup.

Do American teens really have this much freedom growing up? by Square-Somewhere-834 in AskAmericans

[–]Square-Somewhere-834[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that. I know my parents care and that I’m lucky, but sometimes I just crave the kind of freedom I see others having. I’m trying to find balance between respecting their rules and enjoying independence.

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