None seem obvious at the time. I wish I was still 8 or 9.
How about still being young enough to do “kid” stuff. I remember building a fort in the woods at age 14 (or maybe 13), that kind of stuff was “uncool” by age 15-16. At age 14 you stiil get to play (e.g, hide and seek after dark). Once you get older than that you don’t really play so much as just “hang out”.
Got to get in all the play time you can.
Not to depress you too much, but at some point in the near future (probably <10 years), that number will jump to somewhere in the area of 16 or 17…and stay there. Forever. Old enough to drive a car, hold a job, have a girl/boyfriend, but young enough not to have any major bills, massive debt, failing college grades, or family to worry about.
It’s feeling this way while acting like you don’t when necessary that’s the trick to learn. Employers don’t like employees who get into arguments about whether Jay or Silent Bob was better during work hours, but you don’t want to forget how to do that kind of thing, either.
jayjay (dispensing questionable wisdom since 2001)
Well, I can’t really say that there’s any advantages of being a 14 I sure wouldn’t chose to be 14 again (other then to perhaps correct some social mistakes i made at the time). There is, however, a definite advantage of being 14 over 8 or 9.
[ul]
[li]You’re a heck of a lot closer to legal Driving/Sex/Drinking/Gambling then you were when you were 9[/li][li]Adults take you a little bit more serious then they did when you were 9 (Not nessicarily true, but more often then not it is)[/li][li]You’re bigger and more mature (hopfully)[/li][li]Hi Opal[/li][/ul]
Ok…so the whole hormone thing is a bit…uh…different…you’ll get used to it.
There are none.
Adolesence is hell. Get used to the idea.
Of course, masturbation is much more profound at that age than it is at 30, but I’m pretty sure you’ll figure that one out on your own.
Okay, I admit to actually missing being 14. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, problems and all. Some of the reasons:
Physically, it’s a great time to be alive. Good reflexes, good metabolism, great stamina.
Mentally, the brain is a massive spongelike absorption machine right now. Entire foundations for future learning are being laid, pathways for thought carved out.
Emotionally, it’s hell. But you’re alive, you feel things more sharply than you might for years to come, and you can, if you want, revel in that. Cry your eyes out, laugh until you pass out, spend long wistful afternoons in front of rainy windows, and everybody will just chalk it up to being a teenager.
Musically, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to be out on the fringes of society. There are so many great bands out there right now, and you’ve got the time to listen to them.
Most importantly, there’s opportunity. If there’s anything you want to learn how to do, start now. Pick up a guitar, learn to draw, sing your brains out, play with your computer till it breaks… but later on in life, you’ll always wonder why you didn’t start whatever back when you were fourteen. Start it now. I know it takes courage, but I guarantee it’s worth it.
Revel in this time. Write down what it’s like to be fourteen, and to be you right now; you’ll wonder later on. Learn what you like, what you dislike, what you want to be like.
Wow. I wrote a sermon. But I am jealous. Fourteen was a great time for me, and better times followed. Have a blast with it.
What? Don’t you remember discovering masturbation!? It was the best ten seconds of my life!
A few more advantages of being 14:
*Relative freedom. If you ride a bicycle you can probably take it as far from home as you want. You can probably earn at least a few of your own dollars delivering newspapers, babysitting, or mowing lawns.
*Greater knowledge. If you like to read books the ones you read now are getting a lot more interesting. If you like to paint your work is more sophisticated. You’re developing some of the tastes and skills that will shape you as an adult.
*Leisure to experiment. At 14 most of your time outside of school is still your own. As mrvisible says, now is the perfect age to take up a musical instrument or some other serious hobby.
*Power to control the future. You’re right at the start of the years that really shape your education. You’ll have a serious advantage if you choose some goals now. Dream of the Ivy League? Start reading a book a week of serious literature and you might just get there. It worked for me.
BTW most of the things that affect your social status among other 14-year-olds have absolutely no significance in the big picture. Choose a few good friends who really matter, help them stay on the right track with you, and ignore the petty stuff.
Limited legal liability. If you want to make money doing something illegal, now is the best time - even if you get busted you can probably still live a somewhat normal life in a few years time.
Semi-legal access to young girls. Judging from my AIM experiences, this is something a LOT of guys would like.
Main advantage to being 14: You’re through with being 13 for the rest of your life.
IF you are the type of person to enjoy Halloween, 14 is a great age for October!
Creative, resourceful, independent, and still young enough to go trick-or-treating!
::hands Lego a roll of toilet paper::
Remember what Badtz Maru said, but leave MY house alone.
-Mothra
(24 and too old for that Wonder Woman getup)
I loved and hated being fourteen. You’re still too young to have adults take you really seriously, but old enough to have genuinely mature and intelligent thoughts. I seem to remember spending a lot of my time feeling that i should be wearing a badge announcing “I’m not stupid”.
But the advantages are many…
You can still depend on other people to feed you and house you. I miss never having to worry about paying for food or rent.
When you fuck up, you can blame it your age and adolescent hormones 
There are so many things you haven’t yet done and now you can finally start doing them. You’re finally old enough to tackle some serious books, old enough to go places on your own for extended periods of time and just do what you want. I revelled in being able to go into town and just go wherever i fancied without having to ask anyone.
You’ve got time. This is the big one. Your spare time is your own. There’s time to muck about with your mates, time to spend hours chilling in front of the tv, to read, to just do what you want. Yes, there’s homework to be done and cars that desperately want to be driven but that’s it. You don’t have to take care of anyone but yourself. Enjoy this for all it’s worth.
The shitty side, all the am-i-your-friend-does-she-fancy-me-does-everyone-think-i’m-a-complete-dork side is good. It’s finding out who you are, who you want to be. I always thought that was quite exciting - what’s my reaction to this, how do i deal with that? It’s frustrating to constantly have to deal with emotions that you don’t know what to do with but it’s also a damn good use of your time when you’re 14. This is when you become an adult. This is when you learn to deal with life. The world doesn’t revolve around you, but your life certainly does and right at this moment you get to see it evolve before your eyes. Take a step back, look at the big picture and i think you’ll find this is a pretty damn good time to be fourteen.
Fran
I wish someone had told me this when I was fourteen.
I’m with flodnak, the best thing about 14 was that you’re done with 13. Personally, I would think it’s all going to improve from here. 16 was pretty good. 11 was pretty good too. in between was kind of hell. JMHO, of course. Its a good time to find some interesting hobbies. Try to ignore the idiots. Good luck.
The number one advantage is that you still know everything.
Exactly. And if your adolescence isn’t hell, I don’t want to hear about it.
Personally, my 30’s have been good to me thus far. Before that, I don’t want to talk about.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by jr8 *
**
Exactly. I wouldn’t go back to being a teenager for anything. Not even for the carefree part.
[aside]nice signature, jr8[/aside]
As others have said, this is when you have the time to do whatever you want and no mistakes can really hurt you in the long run. Nothing you do is important except for practice for life. Screw up a relationship with a gf? So what? Its not a divorce, it doesn’t rip apart the lives of a family. Its just relationship practice. Date the people you will never marry.
Get used to doing well in school so when it gets rough you have the background to do well when it counts.
Play a lot. Read a lot. Read everything you may ever want to say you have read, classics, huge tomes of philosophy, anything…I love reading and I have no time for it now. I’m only five years ahead of you. I read a lot and I wish I would have read more, done more, sat around and thought more. Have fun, revel in the wonder that you and your life are. Seriously, it actually only gets duller unless you really work at it. (I know, I work hard to have a colorful life and I still fail 5 nights out of 7.)
Gotta agree with rastahomie.
Absolutely none.
The early teens are the WORST.
You’re too old to still do kid things and too young to do adult things. You don’t feel like a kid, but you’re still treated like one.
Not to mention the glories of puberty (i.e. acne, raging horrid hormones). And the omnipresent feeling that the entire world is out to get you.
And the worst part: other 14 year olds. They are, without question, the most petty, mean people on the planet.
Fortunately, most of this becoems easier to deal with around age 16-18.
by the way, jayjay
ahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This goes right up there with “High School is the best time of your life.” Jeez. This sounds to me very much like “rac[ing] on to the silliest time in one’s life … and then stop[ping] there as long as [one] can.” (C.S. Lewis) No, thank you.
Is no one going to ask ME, an SDMB resident 14 year old, about my life? …No? Carry on.