It's rough being a teenager in this day and age.

"It's rough being a teenager in this day and age." These words, spoken by Kay Panabaker, ring with an undeniable truth—a truth that echoes through the ages. The teenage years, those pivotal years of transformation and self-discovery, have always been fraught with challenges, but in the modern age, they have become increasingly complex. The weight of the world presses heavily on the shoulders of today’s youth. They are not merely contending with the internal confusion and self-doubt that comes with growing up, but with an external world that often feels unstable, divisive, and unforgiving. In the ancient world, adolescence was a time of initiation and learning, but even then, the journey to adulthood was seen as one filled with struggle. And yet, the obstacles of today may appear as more overwhelming, more immediate, and more public, with the eyes of society constantly watching.

In the ancient Greek tradition, Plato spoke often of the tension between youth and society, particularly in his dialogue The Republic, where the older generation struggles to understand the young. For Plato, the role of the young was to question, to challenge the status quo, and to push boundaries. Yet, the very process of growing up, of stepping into the world and finding one’s place in it, was seen as difficult and filled with struggle. The youth were hungry for knowledge, for freedom, but also for validation. They were guided by the desire to understand truth and virtue, yet the world was not always kind or patient with their curiosity. Panabaker’s statement, then, is not a new one. It is the same struggle faced by those who have come before—a struggle that has evolved, but whose core remains the same.

The challenges of teenagehood today are unique, but they share a deep connection with the challenges of the past. In the Middle Ages, adolescence was no less difficult, but the nature of the trials was different. The world was smaller, the pressures were often simpler, yet the fear of unknowns—the uncertainty of the future, the pain of loss, and the burden of expectations—remained universal. Consider the tale of Joan of Arc, who, though barely a teenager, was thrust into the violent and tumultuous landscape of war and politics. Her inner turmoil and determination to make a difference were not dissimilar to the teenagers of today, who struggle with questions of identity, purpose, and how they fit into a world that often feels fragmented and hostile. Joan, like many teenagers, faced overwhelming odds, yet she rose above them, driven by her vision of purpose and faith.

But today’s teenagers, as Panabaker wisely observes, face a world unlike that of any other generation. Social media, with its constant demands for appearance, validation, and comparison, amplifies the pressures of adolescence, making the internal struggles of teenagehood even more public. Where once a young person could retreat into themselves, today they are always connected, always seen. The teenage years, which are already marked by confusion and identity-searching, are now experienced under a microscope, where every misstep and failure is documented and shared with the world. This can be a heavy burden, one that the ancient world could not have predicted, but one that modern youth now navigate daily.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, who, at a young age, was thrust into the spotlight as a military leader. Though his physical achievements were extraordinary, the pressures of leadership at such a young age would have been immense. He, too, faced the challenges of being a young man trying to find his place in a larger world. Alexander’s story, however, reveals a crucial lesson: he did not allow the weight of the expectations placed upon him to crush his spirit, but instead used it to fuel his ambition. He channeled the challenges of his youth into a force that drove him to become one of history’s greatest conquerors. Today’s teenagers, like Alexander, can find ways to navigate the world’s overwhelming pressures by channeling their internal struggles into something that helps them grow, rather than surrendering to the weight of societal expectations.

So, O children of wisdom, let us reflect on Panabaker’s words and the universal truth they contain. The teenage years will always be a time of struggle, for it is the age of discovery, of shaping identity, and of learning how to engage with a complex world. Yet, it is also the age of great potential—the age when we are most malleable, most eager to absorb knowledge, and most willing to question the structures around us. Though the world may seem overwhelming, it is in youth that we are given the most opportunities to shape our destiny, to rise above the fears and pressures that define our time.

Let this be the lesson for all who walk the path of adolescence: do not shy away from the struggles of your years, for they will shape you into the person you are meant to become. Use the challenges of the world not as barriers, but as stepping stones to build the strength of your character. As Alexander and Joan of Arc did before you, embrace the journey, knowing that the world may be rough, but the power to change it lies within your hands. You are not defined by the struggles, but by the strength and resolve with which you face them.