A whirlwind. A wild card. A roller coaster.
These are just a few of the ways people describe teenagers. They can seem impossible to control, difficult to predict, and full of emotional ups and downs. One moment they're happy; the next they're upset. And if someone dares to push the wrong button, they may react as though they’re ready to declare war.
As teenagers enter puberty, their bodies begin to change. Their brains change too. The frontal lobe—the part of the brain responsible for rational thinking and decision-making—undergoes a major remodeling project. As a result, acting rationally can become more difficult. Meanwhile, the limbic system, which controls emotions, is already fully developed and highly active. With emotions often taking the lead, feelings can seem larger than life. That is why teenagers suddenly lose their temper or do things that leave others scratching their heads.
The teenage years can be difficult to understand—for both teenagers themselves and the people around them. But when this stage of life is navigated well, those same traits can become powerful strengths. A rebellious streak can be transformed into the courage to stand against injustice, while impulsiveness and boldness can develop into a spirit of adventure that embraces new possibilities.
Students, Giants of History
No account of Korean history would be complete without the independence movement. It is no exaggeration to say that today's Republic of Korea was built on the sacrifices of patriots who risked their lives for the nation's freedom. Among the most significant independence movements during the Japanese occupation were the March First Movement, the June 10 Manse Movement, and the Gwangju Student Independence Movement. Visionary leaders played an important role in awakening and guiding the people, but there was one group that repeatedly stood at the forefront of these movements: students.On March 1, 1919, after the Declaration of Independence was read at Tapgol Park in Seoul, the crowd raised a united cry: “Long live Korean independence!” Students played a crucial role in spreading that cry throughout the country. They marched through the streets of Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul), shouting, “Long live Korean independence!” When the Japanese authorities ordered schools in Gyeongseong to close, the students turned the situation into an opportunity. They returned to their hometowns and sparked new waves of independence demonstrations across the nation.
Afterward, the independence movement fell into a period of decline under Japan's strict surveillance. But in 1926, the flame of resistance was reignited. On June 10, during the funeral procession of Emperor Sunjong, a student stepped forward from the crowd and shouted, “Long live Korean independence!” Although he was quickly stopped, about 300 students immediately took up the cry, and the call for independence spread across the nation.
On November 3, 1929, students in Gwangju rose up in protest. What began as a conflict between Korean and Japanese middle school students commuting by train soon sparked a large-scale anti-Japanese movement involving more than 2,000 students. The movement spread nationwide and continued until March of the following year. In total, more than 54,000 students from 194 schools took part. It was the largest national resistance movement since the March First Movement. To honor the spirit of the student independence movement, the National Assembly designated November 3 as Student Day in 1953. In 2006, the name was changed to Student Independence Movement Day.
Someone once called students “giants of history.” In an age ruled by fear and despair, students were not children hiding behind adults. They were giants who stepped forward with unwavering conviction, refusing to yield to an unjust reality.
The Courage of Ordinary Teenagers
In 1865, slavery was abolished in the United States. Yet even a century later, little had changed in many parts of the American South. Among southern cities, Birmingham, Alabama, was notorious for its severe racial discrimination. Schools, buses, restrooms, churches, and other public facilities were strictly segregated by race. Those who spoke out for equality often became targets of bomb attacks, and the police—made up entirely of white officers—did little to bring the perpetrators to justice.The leaders of Birmingham's Black civil rights movement came up with a bold plan. They would peacefully defy segregation laws by doing things such as sitting at whites-only lunch counters and purchasing items from stores that served only white customers. No matter what happened, they were not to use violence. Instead, they would allow themselves to be arrested. Their goal was to fill Birmingham's jails, overwhelm the city's resources, and draw national attention to the injustice of racial discrimination. But no one was eager to volunteer. People feared the police, who responded with brutal force, including beatings and high-pressure fire hoses. They also worried about losing their jobs and being unable to support their families. Just as the plan seemed destined to fail, a group stepped forward. They were students.
“We want to go to jail.”
No matter how worthy the cause, sending children to jail was not an easy decision. Yet the students' determination never wavered. After much discussion, the movement's leaders agreed to honor their wishes, believing that the young people could help dismantle the very system that kept them oppressed.
On May 2, 1963, hundreds of students took a stand against segregation. When the police arrived, the students smiled as if they were heading out on a field trip and willingly allowed themselves to be arrested. So many students were taken into custody that the police had to use school buses to transport them. The following day, more than 2,000 students joined the demonstrations. The jails were already overflowing. Barns and livestock sheds were converted into temporary detention centers. Yet the students kept coming—day after day.
Even adults who had initially hesitated began to change their minds and join the movement. Eventually, the U.S. federal government stepped in to mediate, and the world took notice. At last, Birmingham officials agreed to remove segregated facilities and expand employment opportunities for Black citizens. Change came slowly, but it did not stop. Civil rights laws banning racial discrimination were enacted across the United States, and in 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed to protect the voting rights of racial minorities.
At a time when generations of discrimination and oppression had come to be accepted as normal, these young boys and girls courageously stepped forward into the path of powerful water hoses and fierce police dogs. We often think only extraordinary people can reform broken systems and change the world. Yet when ordinary young people have the courage to do what is right, they too can change the course of history.
What We Need Today Is the Power of Teenagers
Braille. Popsicles. Television.Today, we use these things without a second thought. Yet each was once a groundbreaking invention that changed everyday life. The six-dot Braille system was created by Louis Braille at the age of 15 in 1824. The popsicle was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905. And the electronic television was first conceived by 14-year-old Philo Taylor Farnsworth in 1921. All of them were teenagers.
The popsicle was invented by accident when a drink with a stirring stick left inside froze overnight. Braille, however, was the result of years of dedication. As a visually impaired teenager himself, Louis Braille spent three years developing a writing system that would allow blind people to read and write. At first, only a small number of people recognized its value, and it was not officially adopted until 1932, long after his death. The invention of television faced its own challenges. When Farnsworth first introduced his design for what he called an “image transmission device,” few people paid attention. The technology was difficult for many to understand at the time, but the biggest reason was simple: people thought he was too young.
Even today, teenagers continue to create inventions that benefit humanity. Fourteen-year-old Elif Bilgin from Türkiye was inspired to find a solution after seeing mountains of plastic waste. After two years of research, she succeeded in producing bioplastic from banana peels. In the Netherlands, sixteen-year-old Boyan Slat was shocked by the amount of trash he saw in the ocean while swimming. Determined to make a difference, he developed a method for cleaning up marine debris by harnessing ocean currents.
Cancer remains one of medicine's greatest challenges. Among its many forms, pancreatic cancer is especially deadly because it is difficult to detect in its early stages. When Jack Andraka was 15 years old, a neighbor he considered family passed away from pancreatic cancer. Determined to learn more, he began researching the disease. Jack set out to find a better method of detecting pancreatic cancer—one that was faster, less expensive, and more effective than existing methods. Teaching himself as he went, he immersed himself in research and experimentation. At first, no one paid attention to his work. Yet through remarkable perseverance, he developed a pancreatic cancer detection sensor in just seven months. The test took only five minutes and cost just three cents. Compared with existing methods, it was 168 times faster, 26,000 times less expensive, and 400 times more sensitive, with nearly 100 percent accuracy. The medical community was astonished by the world's first technology for the early detection of pancreatic cancer.
As a young adult, he says:
“If a 15-year-old who didn’t quite know what a pancreas was, could find a new way to detect pancreatic cancer, just imagine what we all can do together.”
Teenagers are still growing and discovering who they are. And perhaps that's exactly why they can break through old ways of thinking. Even when everyone else says, “It can't be done,” they ask, “Why not?” and boldly take on challenges others would never attempt. Who knows? One of those seemingly far-fetched ideas may become the next great breakthrough.
Long ago, there was a young boy. One day, while delivering supplies to his brothers on the battlefield, he overheard the commander of the enemy army and became so indignant that he volunteered to fight him himself. It was a standoff that even seasoned warriors hesitated to face. His brothers scolded him, and the king tried to stop him. Yet he refused to back down. Determined to fight, he eventually stood before the enemy commander with neither sword nor shield. In the end, he defeated him.
This is the story of David. At first glance, David may seem reckless—a hot-headed boy rushing into danger without thinking. But there was more to him than youthful bravado. At the center of his actions was faith. He could not stand by while God's name was dishonored. Though he must have been afraid, he trusted in God and stepped forward. God granted David a miraculous victory, and to this day he is remembered as a hero. The difference between a troublemaker and a hero can be surprisingly small. It often comes down to one question: Did you act on impulse and emotion, or did you step forward with conviction for what is right? That small difference can lead to completely different outcomes.
The energy of teenagers has helped change the world for the better. Though young, they possess tremendous power—the kind of energy that drives them forward with the force of a storm. And for teenagers who walk with God, that potential is limitless.