Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Life's a bitch when you're a teen

Today as I was looking up forums and news on why SEVEN was down, I stumbled upon a bizarre news article about a boy who chopped off his penis and tossed it down a well, all because his gf broke up with him. I kid you not!

Later as I read more news I saw yet another shocking teen-related one of a 15 year old girl who committed suicide as a result of excessive bullying at school :( This really saddened me because I experienced similar woes at that age.

Apparently her teachers witnessed the bullying and did nothing. It's kinda like how our teachers used to look at us with sad eyes as if willing the bullying to stop. I have vivid memories of my dad making trips down to school to meet with our principal only to be told everything was fine when they were not. This formed my incisive sentiments on the Malaysian education system and those involved in upholding it.

If you ask me today how I feel about what happened, I would say I'm more than fine. In fact, it's been so long, I barely recall half of it. The more painful things that stay with you are usually those that you don't speak of. Like how your friends didn't stand by you when they could, or the traces of trauma that follow you through life until they dissipate away over time. Or if you're lucky, over an apology.

These articles got me thinking about "growing up." Today, I'm way past my tweens and teens. And while I may have thought I knew a lot then, I really knew nothing. Even at 19, I hardly knew any more than I did at 15. Now at twenty-something, I know even less!

It's funny isn't it? I bet the 19 year old boy didn't know losing a penis for life is way harder than losing a gf. Perhaps the latter isn't such a big deal because well, we all move on. Bet the nine bullies didn't think the law would come down so hard on them.

Guess people learn over time.


Link to the Malacca photos as promised: click here>