"Everybody Hates Teenagers"

Hello again, Doods and Doodettes!

How'd you like today's comic? We decided to post another solo Schooly adventure for your reading pleasure this week, though we've been discussing the possibility of adding even more wacky characters to his class in the future! In the meantime, I think we finally managed to deal with our spam comment problem, so don't forget to check our newly cleansed comments section.

Alas, I have some bittersweet news for you today: I finally got the job at the rental store! While that means I now have nearly unlimited access to movies, the training schedule also means that I don't have enough time to write a full post today. Fear not, however, as friend-of-the-blog Vic has volunteered to take over with a guest post!

Take it away, Vic.

What's up, Internet?

Long-time reader, first-time contributor here. Never thought I'd write anything that would be read by more than just my teachers, but here we are! Thanks for the opportunity, Robby. Just don't go thinking that this means I'll go easy on you during our next bowling match.

To be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing here. But, I did write a little essay the other day that I'm planning oh handing in to my lit teacher, so I might as well share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy.

"I used to watch a lot of American shows on TV. That means I grew up with certain expectations about High School. Driver's Ed and optional classes. Personalized lockers and school dances. Real life turned out to be very different. School isn't fun like on TV and I don't even get to pick my own clothes. But that's not what really bothers me. Our circumstances may be different from other countries, but the process of growing up has to be the same everywhere, right? No, what really bothers me about being a Teenager is how everyone seems to hate us.

The other day, I was out in the yard during lunch and I noticed that the barbs on top of the school fence face inward, not out. Like whoever built this place is more worried about keeping us contained than keeping the pedophiles and drug-dealers out. I don't think think we're particularly scary, and it's not like we're factory workers building something important in here. Some might say that we're here to recieve an education, but everyone knows that most of what we learn is forgotten by the time we get home and turn on MTV.

It doesn't end at school, either. We always get side-eyed by security guards whenever we go to the mall, my boss always thinks I'm stealing from the till and my parents are always a couple of swear words away from accusing me of being addicted to drugs. I may just be an average Joe with okay grades and no idea about what I want to study in college, but even I'm smart enough to connect the dots: nobody wants us around. 

I think High School exists because people just need a place to put teenagers away during the day and they don't know what else to do with us. Our mistakes aren't cute anymore like they used to be when we were babies, but we're not ready to be taken seriously as people either. We're always in between things and getting in the way. Maybe that's why whenever one of us kills themselves, gets hooked on drugs or lashes out and does something wrong the news loves to talk about gun laws, MySpace and videogames, but no one ever asks us what we think about it.

I made a new friend this year. His name is Robby and he's always mad at our classmates. He says this place is a prison, and sometimes I agree with him. The food is bad, the school cliques are like gangs and I've even seen kids trade Pokémon cards for cigarettes. But I think Robby is mad at the wrong people. The other kids didn't ask to be here either, and I think they all expected more from school than what we actually got. If you think about it, nobody hates Teenagers more than other Teenagers. We're mean to each other for no reason even though everyone is just as lost as everyone else. Some of us are just better at pretending.

But I know that complaining alone won't fix anything. My parents always say that you have to change your way of thinking before you can change reality, so I've been trying to look for solutions instead of problems. That brings me to my good friend, Marianne. Marianne says that she want to start a real student council so someone can give us teens a voice and maybe push things in a better direction. She's the one who made me realize that things don't have to be this way forever. One day, we'll grow up and take charge, and then we can change things so other people don't have to suffer with the same issues we did.

If you ask me, nobody knows what to do with us because nobody wants to remember what it felt like to be us. Dealing with teachers, homework, bullies, helplessness and being smart enough to realize that the world is on fire but not experienced enough to know how to put it out. All of it. That's why I'll make a point of remembering everything. And if other people do the same, when it's finally my little brother's turn to study here, maybe he'll have things a little easier than I did."

I think that deserves at least a B+, right? See, I'm not just a pretty face! Speaking of which, I'm rehearsing what to say to my crush when I ask her out to the Halloween dance this October. I almost asked her out the last time I saw her, but it's just that damn Julami distracting me, I swear!

Well, I gotta drop this off at the rental store and maybe watch a movie with Robby if the manager isn't there. Maybe they'll have that new Jason Statham movie that looks like a live-action GTA.

Peace out!

- Victor Davalos

Thanks a bunch, Vic! I think you give our classmates a little too much credit, but that was still a great post. And guess what? I'm also working up the courage to invite someone special to the dance! Let's see how it goes. Maybe we'll have a double date like in the movies. 

Anyway, before we go, I'd like to share this little doodle that I made of Mari during my break at work. Will's been teaching me how to draw better cartoons, so I hope you like it.

That's all for now, but don't forget to tune in next week as we update you about our long-awaited Birthday Bash!

Chainsaw cheers,

- Robby

PS: Your drawing goes with this song, Mari •⩊•