I just don't 'fit in' with the youth of today...

I apologize for the extremely dramatic title; rest assured I don’t mean it in angst-ridden, self-centred way… but it really is true. I’ve only come to realise this for certain in the last couple of weeks, and I’m finding it really difficult.

For the past couple of weeks I have been forced to be in the company of six others kids of around my age (15-16), whilst doing work-experience. They are all perfectly nice, but they are just ‘not my type’, if you can understand what I mean. For the first few days I tried to interact with them and make an effort but now things are more difficult. Some of the kids have gravitated towards each other as they come from the same school, and so I have sort of been left on my own. But probably more worrying than that… I really don’t care! These kids are apparently top students at their school, but as far as I am concerned they never do anything! They spend most of the workday doing nothing but chatting and checking out myspace/youtube. I, on the other hand, have spent most of my time working like crazy and as a result I have probably finished much too early. Thus, I am now helping the magazines editor finish many incomplete articles and trying to find other bits to do.

I had a chat with the owner of the magazine today, and whilst she was absolutely thrilled with my work ethic and articles, seemed to be concerned about my lack of social interaction with the group. I thought this was slightly unfair as its not as though I ignore them; I always speak to them in the morning, offer to make them tea, ask them how they are getting on etc. It isn’t like I’m a total recluse! But basically, she was going on about how social interaction is a relatively important part of the job, especially if you want to be a magazine editor. But I just can’t do it. I have tried believe me, but their areas of conversation (if you can call it that) are pretty limited—sex, my space, you tube, more sex, giggling—that’s pretty much it! I have always found younger people really difficult to talk to anyway, and with these kinds of conversations I am not finding it easy. It doesn’t help that I have been home schooled for years and so am more used to the company of adults. She also things my group are gravitating away from me because:

A) They think I’m snobby B) They are intimidated by my intelligence/ vigorous work ethic (C) They think that I believe I am better than everyone else

None of this is true… and luckily the magazine’s owner understands this! She really appreciates that I am working hard despite having been ill for quite a while. But I think this is concerning her slightly. But I honestly don’t know what to do about this. I can understand why the other kids may think the above; I think I sometimes come across as a bit aloof (unintentionally) because I feel incredibly shy and nervous around young people. I always think they’ll judge me, and by the looks of things… they have! I just can’t cope with their immaturity. Fair enough, I’m not a boring old sod; I can have a laugh when things are actually funny, but the stuff they giggle about is just stupid! I feel so much more comfortable with adults, as I can relax and talk to them about anything. But I feel intimidated by almost anyone under the age of 17.

I used to get teased about it in school too, they called me a teacher’s pet and questioned why I used ‘big’ words and ‘talked like an adult’. The kids in my group speak in a really slangy way too; they say things like ‘it’s proper/dead good’ in every sentence. My parents have told me to copy them just to fit in, but I don’t want too. It would sound silly coming from me.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I am essentially an adult trapped in an adolescent’s body, and it is incredibly frustrating. Sometimes I get really upset about it and end up in tears. No kids seem to ‘get’ me, and they either think I’m a pretentious snob or a complete introvert. Are there any kids out there that are a bit more mature… because I’ve never met any? I’m not asking the world, I would just like to be able to communicate effectively with other young people.

How do I get in on their conversations, when to be quite frank, I’m not that interested? Is there any way for me to feel a bit more confident around them, too?

I apologize for the extremely dramatic title; rest assured I don’t mean it in angst-ridden, self-centred way… but it really is true. I’ve only come to realise this for certain in the last couple of weeks, and I’m finding it really difficult.

For the past couple of weeks I have been forced to be in the company of six others kids of around my age (15-16), whilst doing work-experience. They are all perfectly nice, but they are just ‘not my type’, if you can understand what I mean. For the first few days I tried to interact with them and make an effort but now things are more difficult. Some of the kids have gravitated towards each other as they come from the same school, and so I have sort of been left on my own. But probably more worrying than that… I really don’t care! These kids are apparently top students at their school, but as far as I am concerned they never do anything! They spend most of the workday doing nothing but chatting and checking out myspace/youtube. I, on the other hand, have spent most of my time working like crazy and as a result I have probably finished much too early. Thus, I am now helping the magazines editor finish many incomplete articles and trying to find other bits to do.

I had a chat with the owner of the magazine today, and whilst she was absolutely thrilled with my work ethic and articles, seemed to be concerned about my lack of social interaction with the group. I thought this was slightly unfair as its not as though I ignore them; I always speak to them in the morning, offer to make them tea, ask them how they are getting on etc. It isn’t like I’m a total recluse! But basically, she was going on about how social interaction is a relatively important part of the job, especially if you want to be a magazine editor. But I just can’t do it. I have tried believe me, but their areas of conversation (if you can call it that) are pretty limited—sex, my space, you tube, more sex, giggling—that’s pretty much it! I have always found younger people really difficult to talk to anyway, and with these kinds of conversations I am not finding it easy. It doesn’t help that I have been home schooled for years and so am more used to the company of adults. She also things my group are gravitating away from me because:

A) They think I’m snobby B) They are intimidated by my intelligence/ vigorous work ethic (C) They think that I believe I am better than everyone else

None of this is true… and luckily the magazine’s owner understands this! She really appreciates that I am working hard despite having been ill for quite a while. But I think this is concerning her slightly. But I honestly don’t know what to do about this. I can understand why the other kids may think the above; I think I sometimes come across as a bit aloof (unintentionally) because I feel incredibly shy and nervous around young people. I always think they’ll judge me, and by the looks of things… they have! I just can’t cope with their immaturity. Fair enough, I’m not a boring old sod; I can have a laugh when things are actually funny, but the stuff they giggle about is just stupid! I feel so much more comfortable with adults, as I can relax and talk to them about anything. But I feel intimidated by almost anyone under the age of 17.

I used to get teased about it in school too, they called me a teacher’s pet and questioned why I used ‘big’ words and ‘talked like an adult’. The kids in my group speak in a really slangy way too; they say things like ‘it’s proper/dead good’ in every sentence. My parents have told me to copy them just to fit in, but I don’t want too. It would sound silly coming from me.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I am essentially an adult trapped in an adolescent’s body, and it is incredibly frustrating. Sometimes I get really upset about it and end up in tears. No kids seem to ‘get’ me, and they either think I’m a pretentious snob or a complete introvert. Are there any kids out there that are a bit more mature… because I’ve never met any? I’m not asking the world, I would just like to be able to communicate effectively with other young people.

How do I get in on their conversations, when to be quite frank, I’m not that interested? Is there any way for me to feel a bit more confident around them, too?

I apologize for the extremely dramatic title; rest assured I don’t mean it in angst-ridden, self-centred way… but it really is true. I’ve only come to realise this for certain in the last couple of weeks, and I’m finding it really difficult.

For the past couple of weeks I have been forced to be in the company of six others kids of around my age (15-16), whilst doing work-experience. They are all perfectly nice, but they are just ‘not my type’, if you can understand what I mean. For the first few days I tried to interact with them and make an effort but now things are more difficult. Some of the kids have gravitated towards each other as they come from the same school, and so I have sort of been left on my own. But probably more worrying than that… I really don’t care! These kids are apparently top students at their school, but as far as I am concerned they never do anything! They spend most of the workday doing nothing but chatting and checking out myspace/youtube. I, on the other hand, have spent most of my time working like crazy and as a result I have probably finished much too early. Thus, I am now helping the magazines editor finish many incomplete articles and trying to find other bits to do.

I had a chat with the owner of the magazine today, and whilst she was absolutely thrilled with my work ethic and articles, seemed to be concerned about my lack of social interaction with the group. I thought this was slightly unfair as its not as though I ignore them; I always speak to them in the morning, offer to make them tea, ask them how they are getting on etc. It isn’t like I’m a total recluse! But basically, she was going on about how social interaction is a relatively important part of the job, especially if you want to be a magazine editor. But I just can’t do it. I have tried believe me, but their areas of conversation (if you can call it that) are pretty limited—sex, my space, you tube, more sex, giggling—that’s pretty much it! I have always found younger people really difficult to talk to anyway, and with these kinds of conversations I am not finding it easy. It doesn’t help that I have been home schooled for years and so am more used to the company of adults. She also things my group are gravitating away from me because:

A) They think I’m snobby B) They are intimidated by my intelligence/ vigorous work ethic (C) They think that I believe I am better than everyone else

None of this is true… and luckily the magazine’s owner understands this! She really appreciates that I am working hard despite having been ill for quite a while. But I think this is concerning her slightly. But I honestly don’t know what to do about this. I can understand why the other kids may think the above; I think I sometimes come across as a bit aloof (unintentionally) because I feel incredibly shy and nervous around young people. I always think they’ll judge me, and by the looks of things… they have! I just can’t cope with their immaturity. Fair enough, I’m not a boring old sod; I can have a laugh when things are actually funny, but the stuff they giggle about is just stupid! I feel so much more comfortable with adults, as I can relax and talk to them about anything. But I feel intimidated by almost anyone under the age of 17.

I used to get teased about it in school too, they called me a teacher’s pet and questioned why I used ‘big’ words and ‘talked like an adult’. The kids in my group speak in a really slangy way too; they say things like ‘it’s proper/dead good’ in every sentence. My parents have told me to copy them just to fit in, but I don’t want too. It would sound silly coming from me.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I am essentially an adult trapped in an adolescent’s body, and it is incredibly frustrating. Sometimes I get really upset about it and end up in tears. No kids seem to ‘get’ me, and they either think I’m a pretentious snob or a complete introvert. Are there any kids out there that are a bit more mature… because I’ve never met any? I’m not asking the world, I would just like to be able to communicate effectively with other young people.

How do I get in on their conversations, when to be quite frank, I’m not that interested? Is there any way for me to feel a bit more confident around them, too?

I get the same problem at university, and I am 22!!!