Teen time Change offers opportunity for teens

This summer and in the fall, we teenagers are all going to experience new changes.
This column is about how to deal with what’s coming up.
You might need braces, like me, and you probably won’t be thrilled. I know when I found out the news, I was upset and thought they would ruin my smile and feel uncomfortable. But braces won’t ruin you; they will just embrace your smile with a new flair.
You will only have to deal with this whole process for about two years. And, luckily, times have changed, and there is no more brace-face and metal-mouth name calling.
Or you might not need braces and be in the other direction with glasses. I see glasses as an opportunity to get creative. There are so many styles and colors to choose from that will match up with your personality — cat-eye, rectangle, geek-chic, oval and circle frames. Take your time, and try them on to make sure you love them. I learned, if it makes you feel good, wear it!
So many people I see and know are afraid to be different. The truth is it’s great to be different. You shouldn’t be afraid to do or wear something that will express you as someone unusual from your friends.
It can be hard, because you might fear that someone will comment on what you wear, do for a sport and so on. Don’t be nervous to stand up for what you like and stay true to who you are. If people are judgmental and comment on what you love to do, then are they really friends?
Think about all of this, and if this relates to you, then make the right choice for yourself. If you enjoy what you are doing and it puts a smile on your face, then that’s the key and the only thing that matters. As long as you know different is OK, then you’re set and will do wonderful when you go through your own changes.
n Olivia Doherty will begin seventh grade at Scotts Valley Middle School in the fall. She writes an occasional column about issues facing middle school students today. Olivia can be reached through the Press-Banner by e-mailing

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