Reminiscing...

Kathleen had a lot going on in her mind. In a couple of months she would end her teen years. It would finally be a past phase. She thought back to the eve of her 13th birthday. The little child inside of her had fancied it to be something huge. Thirteen. The start of teenage life. The years of great excitement and fun. She had laid awake well past into midnight thinking of all the wonderful things that would happen. In her mind she drew up colourful images of what her life would be. She felt it was an important phase of her life. She imagined of all the new friends, new grades, new places, new attitudes and new changes that would happen. Finally after she fell asleep, she dreamt dreams that were far too pleasant. It was to be the start of the most perfect and important phase of her life. During this new year, she was excited at the slightest of changes that took place. She twittered and fluttered around like a little butterfly. After the initial excitement died away, she came to realise that being a teenager was no fairy-tale like experience. It had its thrills and disappointments. It was just another year in your life where you could learn new things and mould yourself to being a responsible and caring adult. During these years, she learned a lot about trust, love and friendship. Apart from her academics, she was also active in the sports field and other extra curricular activities.

Now, looking back, she realised that every single person that she had come across had taught her a valuable lesson however small it maybe. During these last few months of her teenage, she realised that these years were the years that actually developed the person inside of you. Till the age of 10 or 11, most things we do are because of our inquistive nature and curiosity of the unfamiliar surroundings. By the age of 13, we come around to understanding most things around us. By 17, we "think" we are completely ready to handle life on our own and finally when we turn 19 years old, we realise and understand what those advices we received actually meant. This is when it dawns upon us that we have matured into grown ups. Kathleen felt she was treading her feet along this path now. Although her teen years didn't turn out exactly as she had imagined it to be, she knows she has come a long way from being that wishful little child on the bed of her thirteenth birthday.

And as the "twenties" call out to her, she keeps reflecting on her life so far...