The Necessity of Teen Angst

“I wondered if hurdlers ever thought, you know, ‘This would go faster if we just got rid of the hurdles,’” writes popular young adult author John Green in his beloved novel The Fault in our Stars. Yes, it probably would go faster, but then the athletes would not be hurdlers anymore. It is the unique task of persevering past these obstacles that makes the sport of hurdles. Similarly, the obstacle of teen angst is specific to adolescence and the coming of age process. These hurdles are key to the coming of age and the hardships of angst allows teens to develop and find themselves.

Photos by Petra Collins for Rookie Yearbook 

As a young Tumblr user perfectly depicts in their post, angst is a process of worry, confusion, and uncertainty. The blogger writes about how they only know how to understand themselves as a part of high school. Their specific role of drama geek or emo kid in that environment is the only way they know to function. So, with the close of high school and the approach of college, this teen reflects on who they are. Many teens find solace in understanding themselves through their interests; like reading, rock music, staring at the sky too much, and acting. The angst they feel about school causes them to reevaluate themselves and form a personal identity. So teen angst is necessary in forcing young people to self-reflect and get a sense of identity.

 
The song "Teen Angst" by M83 continues to show the importance of angst in coming of age. Through difficult experiences “somehow we learn / somehow we cry” chants the song. Teen angst is necessary in young people's growth and they learn from these experiences.

This feeling of angst also sparks rebellious attitudes in teenagers. Adolescence and coming-of-age thrusts teenagers into a new world where everything they once knew becomes false. The mystique of the world starts to disappear and teens become dysphoric about the world they are becoming a part of. As writes Robin Hansen, “So when young, we are drawn to stories about righting these wrongs by exposing this fake world, replacing it with a true one, and in the process having an adventure.” Angst caused by the realization of the real world prompts young people to want to create change. It is responsible for the defiant attitude that is so closely associated with young people and the desire to form countercultures.

So is teen angst really that bad? Yes it comprises of difficult experiences, but these experiences force change. Angst allows teens to find themselves, to learn, to become angry and force change in the world. Angst is a necessary part of the coming of age process that shapes the future. So yes, if you  removed the hurdles they would go much faster, but they also would not be as strong.