50 Secrets Your Teenager Will Never Tell You

Between being kids and adults, the teenage mind can be a maze of intense emotions. Parents seldom understand the dilemmas, adventures, fears and angst that go with this phase of life, although they too were teenagers not long ago. Teenagers have much to share—if only grown-ups listened. And much to hide so easily (if only grown-ups were not so blind). In an attempt to understand them better, Reader’s Digest asked several teenagers living in different parts of the country, directly and via Facebook, to share some of their closely guarded secrets with us (since they are secrets, a few of them didn’t want to be named).

Nothing Like a Friend
>> I sometimes fight with my friends, but there’s mutual understanding that we won’t let our parents know. And, usually, we sort out the differences ourselves.      
Name withheld, male 14, Pune

>> Some of us get stuck with friends from whom we learn to smoke, drink, splurge, and other vices. For a while, I got entangled with a group of boys and became addicted to video games.

Name withheld, male 14, Coonoor

>> When I want to attend a party or watch a film, I invent a story, like I am going to study at a friend’s place.
Purva, 14, Indore

>> Last year one of my classmates was moving to another city. On his last day at school, I gave him `100 so that he could buy himself a present. It was the money my mother gave me to buy a sweater.          
Name withheld, male 14, Pune