Image from Adalyn Lowe.
I’m sure as teenagers, we’ve all had more than our fair share of embarrassing phases. My sister likes to remind me of mine like it’s her favorite pastime. Hey Addy, do you remember when you really, really liked— yes. Yes, I really do. Now please be quiet about it!
But why is it a secret to have had such a harmless interest in something, even if it was taken to, perhaps, an extreme? Of course when I memorized all 151 Pokémon of the Kanto region in order, I took pride in it.
An embarrassing phase is an unavoidable part of adolescence, no matter which way it forms. Maybe you became really passionate about a book series, movie, or some other fandom. Or you participated in some clothing trend that looking back, wasn’t the cutest. I’m sure you’d like to forget about it. However, these moments are critical for personal growth, especially in preteen to teenage years.
In normal life, there is a constant interplay between the way we choose to present ourselves and how others perceive us. This fear of being judged was stripped away by the pandemic, when we were at home with hours of free time and privacy to express ourselves and dive into whatever we desired. Without fear of showing an embarrassing version of ourselves to our peers, we were able to experience things that were crucial for growth and self-discovery, even if the circumstances were uncanny.
One of the most significant benefits of going through these phases is the development of self-awareness. Adolescence is a time where teenagers need to figure out who they are, and how they fit into the world. It’s crucial to experiment in this time without self-judgment. Trying on different personas can only benefit you; even if you don’t like who that version of yourself is, at least you know now. Maybe you had an unfortunate stint with cow print, and now you can’t look at photos from three years ago without wanting to throw them in a dumpster fire. Look on the bright side: you’ll never wear cow print again!
Not only that, but it’s truly fun to be passionate about something. I don’t understand how people can go through life without passion. Even “trivial” passions fuel creativity, and inspire joy. Living a more passionate life means feeling more connected to yourself and the world around you. No matter how meaningless the passion seems on paper, if it makes your life more fulfilling, it is meaningless no longer.
In light of the subject matter, I am now ready to admit publicly that I had a Minecraft phase. Several actually: the first at the ripe age of six, again at twelve, and I will say I’m beginning my dive back in. Every single time, it’s managed to bring me joy, and I’m excited to wake up and play or watch videos about it. Yes, it’s a silly game, but it’s something small that makes me more excited to live life. And eventually, my passion for it will pass, and I will surely find something else to obsess over. That’s okay. It’s a phase, and this is how we grow.
Adalyn Lowe is a junior at Washington High School, and this is her first year on The Hatchet. She moved from San Francisco at three years old, and has lived in Fremont ever since. This year on the paper, she hopes to cover social issues, youth culture, and her own opinions. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. After high school, Adalyn plans to extend her passion for journalism into a career.