Tracksuit wearing, drug taking yobos is the common stereotype that plagues the teenager in the North East. For many of us it is an issue that means that we feel judged and an underclass in society. Sick of the labelling of us all throwing abuse at passers by, drinking on street corners and generally causing mayhem, I went out to investigate whether the rumours of the teenager are actually true. Or whether it is all down to the delightful concept of peer pressure. Finding a teenager that didn't look like they were going to hurl abuse at me if I talked to them wasn't too hard, as I eventually stumble across 15 year old Rachel from Billingham.. "I find that I do get a lot of abuse because I am into 'Alternative' music. I get people shouting at me, and asking me if I wanted to buy drugs, but I have never taken any." Rachel sees herself as a good teenager, along with 19 year old Steph.  | | Steph - a good teenager |
"Wherever you go in Middlesbrough all you can hear is swearing, I don't fall under that stereotype, I hope not anyway, if I did, I would be very surprised." After just a few minutes it seemed that I had found a common trend, basically there is the good gang and the bad gang. However, like in all of us there is a bit of a bad streak. 19 year old John, a Uni Student, said: "Although I'd class myself as an Indie superhero, I did try the drug speed for the first time the other week, and I do smoke cannabis. But I just class myself as open minded." And I suppose, thinking about it, there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself as a teenager- that's what it is all about, just being yourself. But it is how you convey yourself. That is when the real person in you comes out.  | | Damen - A massive metal fan |
Damon from Grangetown, is a massive metal music fan and told me how he gets loads of insults from people in his school. "Because I don't fit in with what other people wear, I do feel under a lot of peer pressure to wear what the majority of people think is normal." My afternoon sauntering the streets of Middlesbrough was not to waste. It's true- these extreme typical teenagers do exist, I cant deny that. But just to let you know folks, don't worry
.they are few and far between.
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