A conflicted teacher

 "Teenager will be teenagers" This phrase, very similarly to 'boys will be boys', always sets my teeth on edge. As a teacher I know what teenagers are like, thank you very much, and I am definitely (and painfully) aware of all the skills that they are still lacking.  Teenagers are still developing their empathy, their ability to oversee consequences and their decision making skills are not the best. They lack self-reflection and with all those hormones racing through their body their rational thought process is slightly impaired. However, I still feel that while it might be harder for teenagers to do all these things, because their brains just aren't there yet, as adults we still have the responsibility to teach them to develop these skills. To make them aware of the 'lack' and provide them with tools to improve. Furthermore, I also believe that their lack of skills are never a blanket excuse for some of the behaviour they exhibit. Like the addage 'boy

That overwhelming feeling of not being enough, of falling short, of complete and utter failure.  There's not one person alive that has not experienced this. It starts with us as babies, desperately trying to get our arms to support our weight so we can crawl. And when our weak little arms fail and we fall back on our bellies, we all let out a heartbreaking baby cry. Ofcourse, babies eventually learn to crawl and from there they go on to walk. So, in that way the metaphor works because it tells us that with time, hard work and perseverance we can all succeed. But can we?  I was raised with the idea that perseverance is key, and that if you keep on trying and you work hard there is nothing you can't succeed at. And although failing was never seen as something bad while I was growing up, there was always this idea of failing being non permanent. Temporary failing sure, but eventually.. you will always succeed. And as a teacher this is what I have always tried to instill in my stud