The Average Life of a Teen at ND: Is this what you imagined being a teenager looks like? (Audio)
Transcript:
Dylan Crooks ‘25
ALINA KAYALI, HOST:
Hello, my name is Alina Kayali and I'm here with Dylan Crooks, who is currently a senior and I'm going to be interviewing her about what she imagined being a teenager looked like. So, our first question is ten years ago, what did you think being a teenager would look like?
DYLAN CROOKS: Ten years ago? I thought being a teen okay, so, from like Disney movies and like that kind of stuff, I thought it was like um, you know, like going out to parties every weekend and, like, I don't know, like, I don't really know like getting in trouble for, like, what you're wearing, like, very general stuff. um and like, um, boyfriends and yeah, boyfriends, parties and going out all the time and like that kind of stuff. Um, and I think that a lot of that was very much just like, what I saw in movies, like, you know what I mean? Like, um, I'm trying to think of like, like “To All the Girls I Loved Before," like that kind of stuff. like, like that vibe very much of like, um like, I don't know if that makes sense, but like that kind of vibe is what I thought it would be like exactly. um, and, yeah.
KAYALI: So, um, what has been better or worse about being a teenager than you imagined?
CROOKS: Um, I think what's been worse is that I think in movies they don't spend a lot of time showing people doing like homework. Like, there's not a lot of just like, okay, now we're gonna sit down with the main character and do homework for four hours and then stay up all night and whatever. So I feel like that I kind of wasn't expecting as much coming into high school. Like, I knew it would be more work, obviously, because middle school, they were like, oh, like when you're in high school, this is not gonna slide, which I also think Notre Dame is very much different, and I think honestly, it allows for like more of that teenage experience because the workload is just like not as much I feel like as other schools or it's like a lot more lenient. So I feel like, um, it's been worse in the sense that there's much more, like, “Oh, I want to go out and do this thing, but I have more more to do, so I can't.” Um, but it's still not, I think, to the extent that it could be like finals, like that kind of stuff. like, you know, um, we don't really have that here, so I feel like that's a little bit different, and that is better in a sense, cause they do have like finals in movies like that, you know. Um, but, oh, and what I thought it would be like “Clueless” like that kind of vibe, like that that's what I was thinking. Um, and what's been better, I think, is like there's I personally have a lot less fighting with my parents than was in a lot of the stuff that I watched growing up um, so I appreciate that um, and I think there's a lot less friend group drama again personally than I expected. So I think that's what's been like better about being a teenager.
KAYALI: For sure. Um and how have your priorities and goals changed since you were younger?
CROOKS: Um, when I was younger, I think that my priorities were a lot to do with like my friends and like, um how to cause, you know, when you're younger you want to be included in everything, you wanna be like involved in everything. So I think a lot of my priorities and stuff were like on how I could get people to like me and like, you know, um like, make sure I was invited to stuff, like that kind of stuff. Um, and I think I was very, very worried about how other people, like, saw and like perceived me, which, like, obviously not in that deep of a sense because I was like 12, but it's like, um I think there was a lot of like, not struggle, but like that was like my main thing was like, oh, like what this person thinks about me and this person, this person, this person, this person. And I think that that was like my biggest priority as a kid. And then I think, um initially when like the high school process was beginning, when I first applied to Notre Dame, that was kind of my first shift into like, okay, my life doesn't revolve around the people that are currently around me if that makes sense. Like, my life isn't, like, when I chose Notre Dame, I came I chose to come here because of the opportunities that I thought I would get. Especially in like the arts and stuff, because I thought ND would have, like a good art program, that like aligned with my goals and the other school that I was thinking about going to where all my friends were going, didn't really have that offering. So I had to make the decision between going to school with all my friends and going somewhere that would benefit me and my future goals. So I think that my priority shifted a lot from “let me do what all my friends are doing” to “let me do what will help me like further my goals and like align with, like, the person that I want to be,” if that makes sense.
KAYALI: Yeah, like you shied away from what you thought you should be doing to what you really want to be doing.
CROOKS: Yeah.
KAYALI: Perfect. So, if you could give advice to your younger self about being a teenager, what would it be?
CROOKS: About being a teenager, I would say don't, this is like literally so like cliché and like stupid, but it's so real. It's like, don't, like it doesn't matter, like don't worry what like this person is saying about you or what this, what this, or this. Like that when people say like, “the only person that can make you feel embarrassed is yourself,” that's literally true. Like it's like you can just choose not to care. And so I feel like I'm having a great time, because I'm just like not that I do embarrassing things, but I feel like I feel like like, um a lot of the time when I meet people who are like scared to talk to people or scared to like meet new people like that kind of thing. I kind of am confused by that, cause it's like, um I don't know, like it's um wait, I just completely forgot what I was gonna say. What was the question? I saw Chloe and I blanked. Oh, advice. Um, I think just be yourself in like the realest way I can say that, like, I know that's literally so corny, but, like literally just be yourself and you'll find your people and like, you'll find your people, like, that's it. And also what's meant to be will be don't force anything, cause then you're gonna end up in a situation you don't like. Yeah.
KAYALI: Walk me through a day in your life during the week.
CROOKS: Um during the week I wake up around like 6:30 in the morning to start getting ready. Um and like, do my hair, makeup, everything like that. Um, I don't always have time for breakfast, though, cause I usually oversleep. And then I come to school, spend all day at school, um do all my school things. And then I go home and usually have like usually have like, um two or three hours until practice. Um, if I'm not working and then yeah, volleyball practice. Um and I also work at my volleyball club, so lots of volleyball. um and so I'll do homework in that time and then I go to practice and get home usually pretty late, like around like 10:30, 11. Um and a lot of the time that's when I eat, and then I go sleep.
KAYALI: If you could compare your life to what you see normally depicted of teenagers in movies and TV shows, would you say that it's more or less similar or would you say it's entirely different?
CROOKS: Um, I would say it's more similar than I thought it would be. Um, like, there are some aspects definitely that I think like in TV shows and movies, obviously, I feel like I said this last time, but it's like, they're not gonna show the main character sitting down for six hours to do homework. Um, so I feel like, like that part is kind of like, you know, but and I think I also did say this last time, but I think because Notre Dame is so like chill about like work and like, um there's so much opportunity for like retakes and that kind of stuff. Like, I don't even have to spend all that time doing homework so I think that does make it more similar to like, TV portrayals. Um, but a lot of like, like I hang out with my friends a lot, like go out and that kind of stuff, and I feel like it's very similar to like what I thought being a teenager would be like as a kid. Um, so I'm very grateful for that.
KAYALI: Is there something new that you want to explore before you graduate?
CROOKS: Um, before I graduate. I've never done a spirit week game, so I wanna do one this year. Um, but I feel like I've done a lot low key, like, I kind of um I kind of have done everything that I feel like I need to be doing in high school, so, not really.
KAYALI: What do you look forward to most about growing up?
CROOKS: Um, I think meeting new people, because I think like I you know, obviously I love all my friends and I love everybody that is in my life. Um, but I think that um, especially where we live, every like everyone knows everyone and like the circles are so limited. Like it's like, um very much interconnected. So I feel like, like even just going to college, like getting to see all sorts of different kinds of people that I maybe haven't seen before. and then like, no, but you know what I mean? Like, that makes, that makes sense. whatever. And like, um, or just like interacting with new people and, like new perspectives, like that kind of stuff, cause it's kind of an especially a Notre Dame. It's an echo chamber, because everybody's like, like thinks the same way, kinda, like not exactly the same, but it's like generally, you know what I mean? And so I feel like just like experiencing new people and perspectives and environments is what I looked forward to a lot what I look forward to a lot.
KAYALI: Where do you see yourself in 10 years and do you think your days during the week will look similar to now?
CROOKS: Wait, was the second part?
KAYALI: Do you think your days during the week will look similar to now?
CROOKS: In 10 years, I will be how old? 28, I'll be 28. Um and I want to, what do I want to be doing in ten years? I want to own an animation studio. Um or be like the head of visual development at like a major animation studio, which might be kind of ambitious for 28. Um but that's what I want to do. And I want to have a nice house in LA. And, um a wiener dog. And um and hang out with my friends a lot. And um have fun. I want to just have fun all the time. Um, but I also want to be in charge of stuff. and I feel like my days I feel like they probably would look pretty well, no, cause I won't be playing volleyball anymore, but um so I think they'd actually be a lot different. I think I'll be able to wake up a little bit later. um hopefully, which is exciting, maybe. And, um, I still think there will be like that few hours of work in between, like um you know, relaxing and hanging out and stuff. Um, but I hope it'll fall kind of the same structure of wake up, do my work and then go out and have fun.
Audrey Spartz ‘27
KAYALI: I'm here with Audrey Spartz, a sophomore at Notre Dame, and we're going to be continuing our interview on what you imagined being a teenager looked like. Okay, so Audrey, ten years ago, what did you think being a teenager would look like and feel like?
AUDREY SPARTZ: Ten years ago, I was six. Um, and I think just being exposed to media and being exposed to um, like, television from a young age, things like Disney Channel, just watching, like, specifically I’m thinking of like “Jessie” and all of those kids, like the clothes that they would wear. I was definitely expecting just like glamour and, like, makeup and just going to parties, and I just thought it would be like the most fun experience ever and kind of one step closer to being an adult. And I just thought there would be, like, a lot more freedom than I would have as a six-year old or six year old, like elementary school age. and feel like I definitely thought that I would just be really happy and that I'd be, just feel very in control of my life for once and just like not feel like a kid. And that I don't know, I think I just would feel more like an adult in comparison to how it would be as, like, an elementary school kid.
KAYALI: Yeah, I think many other teenagers would definitely agree with that. So our next question is, how has the reality of being a teenager differed from what you imagined?
SPARTZ: Yeah, I think that it's just been a lot more and in a lot of ways burdensome. I think it's less of the, kind of the Hollywood, glamorous kind of what I thought it would be in the sense of like, everything's super fun. I feel like I have a lot more on my plate mentally and I think that there's a lot of pressure in today's world, especially living in like Silicon Valley to succeed and do everything for college and be able to get, like, really good grades. And I feel like I don't have as much of a social life as I thought I would have as a kid, like um I don't know, and I feel like the emotions are a lot more complex than I would have expected, not just like happy or sad. It's like, I'm happy to see my friends at school, but then I'm stressed as well. like there's always just like further layers. There's many more, it's a lot more in depth than I think I would have expected.
KAYALI: Yeah, I definitely agree. I think a lot of the time there aren't a lot of layers in what's on Disney Channel or watching when we're younger, so we don't necessarily expect to experience that. So, what has been better or worse about being a teenager than you imagined?
SPARTZ: Um, something that, I mean, I can't really think as humans we tend to think about the negative. I mean, nothing better is really coming to mind, but um something worse, I think that I didn't think I'd be this stressed. I didn't think. I thought I'd have so many friends and just like that, you know, like in TV, they have like the cliques, like the popular girls. I thought that I would just get to, like, live my “Mean Girls” dream, but like, you know what I mean? Just be able to like walk around and have, and know everyone. But I think that like in high school, friendships are always changing and just like, I think I don't have as many friends as I thought I would at six years old.
KAYALI: So, how have your priorities and goals changed since you were younger?
SPARTZ: Well, I think when I was younger, um I didn't really necessarily understand. I just, I don't know, I just thought that things would come a little bit more easily and just like, like I was saying, I'd have all these friends getting good grades is just as easy as it is when you're turning in your times tables in third grade, that sort of thing. But I've definitely had to work at it a little bit harder and in a sense, my priorities have shifted from just like being I don't know, happy and having the best life to more of just getting by, like my priority is just submitting it at the deadline and not having it being missing if it's an assignment. But I think also priorities, my worldview has broadened a little bit as well, and I think that, um, I have a little bit of a deeper sense of what's going on with the world around me as well. So then I also have like more long-term priorities that I wasn't thinking about when I was younger, about, I don't know, making the world a better place and being able to, like, make an impact where I can as well.
KAYALI: Do you think your priorities are going to change as you get older, like, as you become a junior, senior?
SPARTZ: Yeah, I think about that a lot because I've I think I've changed a lot even in the last year, since freshman year, since middle school. So I think each year I'm getting new experiences, gaining, learning new things, getting further insight into the world around me. So I think that definitely my priorities are gonna continue to change, especially as, like, my life shifts, getting into college or like, I don't know, getting married, like priorities are gonna change.
KAYALI: So, if you could give advice to your younger self about being a teenager, what would it be?
SPARTZ: Um, my advice would be to not, I think, not compare your life to others, and like not look at being a teenager as a blueprint. Like these are the things you need to have, you need to have all these friends, you need to have this sort of social life, you need to be the smartest or whatever. Just like be yeah, like just be yourself, and I think that's like one of the main things too. Like, don't compare yourself to others, be yourself because at the end of the day, you're only gonna have you and no one else, like no one's opinions really matter as much as, like, how you feel, like how you being you makes you feel. I know I'm messing that up, but, like, just be yourself and you'll be happier that way.
KAYALI: Yeah, so walk me through a day in your life during the week. So what time do you get up and leave for school, how long homework takes, et cetera, that sort of thing?
SPARTZ: Okay. Um so a day in my life, I typically wake up at around like six, well my alarm goes off at 6:30, but I probably don't get out of bed genuinely until like 6:45. I get up, get ready for the day, try to have breakfast. Um, and when I get to school, I, like, usually talk to my friends in the morning, because I get there a little bit earlier. And um, then I go to school afterwards. I sometimes have, like, leadership, which is a big part of coming to Notre Dame, like there's a lot of leadership opportunities. And then when I get home, I usually try to do my homework, but I'd say a lot of that time is kind of spent getting distracted like on social media or like, I'll watch a movie. And I feel like I can't, there's no day where I can't, I don't know, spend a little bit of time scrolling because it's just a good way to destress for me. Um, but then I'll do my homework probably about, it takes me about two hours on average; some days it's a little less, some days it's a little more. Or some days like when I procrastinate really bad and I don't do anything, then I’ll have even more for the next day. I usually have volleyball practice as well for club. So that’s something part of my day and that ends around nine. Then I usually, like, come home and try to get to bed early.
KAYALI: Nice. So, if you could compare your life to what you see normally depicted of teenagers in movies and TV shows, what would you say? Um, would you say it's more or less similar? Or would you say it's entirely different?
SPARTZ: Um, I'd say it's, like, pretty different, especially going to Notre Dame. It's definitely not a normal high school that I think is depicted a lot in, like, what I was watching at the time. Um, because that it's an all girls school, because it's private, I think that in some ways, like, that is a really beneficial thing and like, I love that, but it's definitely not what I was watching growing up and wearing a uniform. I know I talked about this earlier, like I really was excited to wear all the cool clothes and I really looked up to Emma from “Jesse” and that sort of thing, and I just wanted to, um, I don't know, I didn't expect what at age that high school looked this way for me. I thought it would just be like fun, and like a Katy Perry song or something. I don't know how to explain it, just like really fun, but not that Notre Dame isn't fun. It's just not what I think I was expecting at that age.
KAYALI: Yeah
SPARTZ: Do you want me to elaborate more?
KAYALI: No, it's all right. Um, so, is there something new that you want to explore before you graduate?
SPARTZ: That's a good question. Um, I'd say that before I graduate, I'd really like to, um, travel more, maybe, like, be able to see what’s going on one of like the Notre Dame traveling, excursions, yeah, to another country or somewhere even like within the United States. I just think that would be a really fun experience and I think that it would be nice to learn, like, be able to learn from experiences outside of, like, my everyday life.
KAYALI: Yeah, for sure. What do you look forward to most about growing up?
SPARTZ: Something that I look forward to most about growing up is probably the independence and just being able to, I don't know, structure my day the way I want to structure it. Whether that includes, like, going to a job or seeing friends when I want to, and I do like the structure of school, but I don't, there's not, like, a lot of room to choose my own schedule, like I have to be here. And, um I think that's something that I'm looking forward to, just being able to further explore my independence.
KAYALI: So, our last question is, where do you see yourself in 10 years, and do you think your days during the week we'll look similar to now?
SPARTZ: Oh man, in ten years, I'd be 26. I feel like they would look similar, potentially because I might still be going to school, depends on what I decide to do, but I think in many ways it'll be different because I won't probably be living at home. Um, I definitely won't be playing volleyball anymore, so that's not gonna be, like, something that I'll have to like, I won't be going to practices anymore. And um, yeah, man, that's, like, kind of crazy to think about. I won't be living at home, won't be seeing my parents every day. Um yeah, and probably I’ll have a job. so I think it'll be pretty different. I think that my day to day life will be different. But, obviously I can't fully expect, I don't really know what to expect down the road, that far down the road. But yeah.
KAYALI: Okay, that's it. Thank you, Audrey.
Elsa Stauss ‘26
KAYALI: Our next interview is with Elsa Stauss, who's a current junior at Notre Dame, and our first question is 10 years ago, what did you think being a teenager would look like or feel like?
ELSA STAUSS: Um, I thought that I'd have a lot more freedom and I thought that it would, it looked more like hanging with my friends and, um, like, going to the beach and all that stuff.
KAYALI: How has the reality of being a teenager differed from what you imagined?
STAUSS: Um, it's different because, like, in reality, it's a lot more like school focused. And instead of like, um spending more of my time, more of my time hanging out with friends. I spend more of my time just doing school work and, like, worrying about college in the future.
KAYALI: What has been better or worse about being a teenager than you imagined?
STAUSS: Um, what's worse is it's a lot more stressful, um, because you actually have like things to worry about, and your actions have consequences rather than like being little. Um, like the worst thing you could do is, like, get into trouble with your teachers or something like that.
KAYALI: How have your priorities and goals changed since you were younger?
STAUSS: Um, when I was younger, my goals and priorities were more about like social things, like making friends and hanging out with new people. Um, but now it's a lot more about like school and like, um, like, becoming a better person and stuff, which I didn't really think about as much when I was little.
KAYALI: If you could give advice to your younger self about being a teenager, what would it be?
STAUSS: Um, I would tell my younger self to, like, more go with the flow and also to not take things as seriously. And if you make a mistake or if things go wrong, like it's not that big of a deal and life will just kind of go on, and you can deal with it.
KAYALI: Walk me through a day in your life during the week. What time you get up, leave for school, how long homework takes, et cetera.
STAUSS: Um, during the week, I usually wake up at like 6:30 or seven if I like sleep in too much. Um I leave for school at like 7:20 and homework usually takes like a couple of hours during the week. like, or every day, um, and if I don't do that, then it really piles up during the weekend.
KAYALI: If you could compare your life to what you normally see of teenagers in movies and TV shows, would you say that it's more or less similar or would you say it's entirely different?
STAUSS: I'd say, um, well, I mean, it depends on the show, but for a lot of it, uh it's pretty different because, like, in reality, everyday is like, kind of the same and not, um, that much like adventurous or crazy stuff happens usually. Um so I'd say it's pretty different.
KAYALI: Is there something new that you want to explore before you graduate?
STAUSS: Um, honestly, just like traveling and like working on, like my hobbies and stuff, cause I feel like with school going on, I like literally do not have time for like exploring new things. So.
KAYALI: What do you look forward to most about growing up?
STAUSS: Um, I'd say the freedom of it to kind of make my own decisions and choose like my life path and stuff rather than like have people tell me what I have to do.
KAYALI: Where do you see yourself in 10 years and do you think your day during the week will look similar to now?
STAUSS: Um I'd say they when I think of the future, I'm not really sure what I wanna do yet, but I'm hoping they'll look a little bit different and I'll have a little more time to um, you know, focus on my hobbies and things that I like to do rather than stuff that I have to do for school. At that point it'll probably be work rather than school.
KAYALI: Okay, thank you.
Emma Berube ‘25
KAYALI: Hello, I'm here with Emma Berube, a current senior at Notre Dame, and our first question is going to be ten years ago what did you think being a teenager would look like and feel like?
EMMA BERUBE: Um, I thought that being a teenager would be very much just like going out, and having a lot of free will, and just experiencing a lot of new things. Yeah.
KAYALI: How has the reality of being a teenager differed from what you imagined?
BERUBE: I think based on television shows, I thought it would be a lot more, like suspenseful, I guess, because there's always like teenagers like going out, and like getting in trouble. So I thought that would happen. But it's very chill, a lot more chill than what I thought. Yeah.
KAYALI: What has been better or worse about being a teenager than you imagined?
BERUBE: Um, something that's been better than what I thought is the amount of like freedom I have, especially since I have my license and I make my own money, I can do my own things. And worse, probably like school. It's kind of boring right now. And with college apps, that's also not fun. Yeah.
KAYALI: How have your priorities and goals changed since you were younger?
BERUBE: I think when I was younger, I was very like, um what's it called? Athletically inclined. I wanted to like pursue volleyball in the future, but now I definitely don't cause I quit, but I think my priorities now are just to get into a good college and have, like a stable, a stable career in the future.
KAYALI: If you could give advice to your younger self about being a teenager, what would it be?
BERUBE: I think just to be more confident in the earlier years of my teenage life, especially, because I think now that I've like discovered that I'm comfortable with like who I am, I've made a lot of new friends and just, I just like to go out and be myself around people. Yeah.
KAYALI: Walk me through a day in your life during the week. What time you get up, leave for school, how long homework takes?
BERUBE: For school, I wake up, if I don't have a free block in the morning, I'll wake up at around, well, my alarm's at 6:30, but then I wake up at seven and I'm like rushing in the morning, and then I get to school, do all my classes, and then I leave school. And my after school depends on if I have volleyball or work, and if I don't, I'll like do my own stuff. like volleyball season. And I get home, eat dinner, hang out with my family. I do homework, I've had a lot less homework compared to junior year, like junior year, I would spend like hours doing homework, but now I spend like max an hour. Yeah, and then I go to bed. Yeah.
KAYALI: If you could compare your life to what you see normally depicted of teenagers in movies and TV shows, would you say that it's more or less similar or would you say that it's entirely different?
BERUBE: There's definitely some similarities like, I think the school aspect is very different as what's seen in shows, but I feel like the going out part, even though it's not the same for everyone, I think a majority of teenagers would say that, like, what you see in shows is kind of similar to what we experience. Yeah.
KAYALI: Is there something new that you want to explore before you graduate?
BERUBE: Um. Maybe just, I don't know, make new friends, I don't really know, just have fun. Yeah.
KAYALI: What do you look forward to most about growing up?
BERUBE: Um, I look forward to starting my career, having a good job. I don't know about starting a, I don't know about having, like, kids of my own. That's for the very far future. And um yeah.
KAYALI: Where do you see yourself in 10 years and do you think your days during the week will look similar to now?
BERUBE: In ten years, that'll be, how old am I? 27, the heck? Hopefully graduate college by then, get my degree or my doctorates, if I want to go that far. Um, have a good job. I want to travel and I want a dog. Yeah.
KAYALI: Okay.
