TOP 5 traits of J’can teens
IT IS said that during our teen years, we ‘find’ ourselves and develop most of our perceptions of the adult world. The choices we make and the characteristics we display, however, are not always specific to an individual but, oftentimes, stem from a shared culture or geography. Here are the top five traits that have stood the test of time among Jamaican teens.
5. In with the times
Last year, there was the mannequin challenge, dub challenge, running man challenge, artisto phase, Pokemon Go phase, and many Jamaican teens got caught up in all of them. That’s right! We tend to be in with the latest trends or fads, whether local or international, just because we’re cool like that. Deal with it.
4. Special bus for school
True or false: Most Jamaican students have that one special bus or taxi that takes them to or from school on a daily basis? You know it’s true; we are a set of youngsters with explicit interests and so we like to have favourites, even when it comes to public transportation. Over the years, this has given rise to the ‘party school bus’ phenomenon and, unfortunately, too many motor vehicle accidents, fatal and otherwise, have been the result.
3. School spirit
Forget whatever internal school matters we may have, one thing is sure, don’t you dare disrespect our school! This is especially so around ‘Champs’, schoolboy football and Schools’ Challenge Quiz time; encounters in earlier years have even been violent. Then, when we graduate from our beloved institutions, our Instagram bios say something like ‘Proud Wolmerian’ or ‘KC Old Boy’ or ‘College Man’.
2. Fashion forward for Christmas
Jingle bells, jingle bells, fade cuts and joggers all the way! If there is one sure thing about Jamaicans on a whole, it is that Christmas time calls for our Sunday best, our fanciest apparel and all things along that line. As a matter of fact, grand market night, December 24, is never really about the shopping to us teens, but really about showing up and standing out, even if it is in those fashion trends that will become so outrageous and odd to us in the new year (LOL)!
1. Put some ‘respeck’ on my nickname
If you’ve never had a less-than-favourable nickname growing up, then you probably did not spend your teenage years in Jamaica! Whether we like it or not, a strong sense of humour forms part of our culture, so not even an aspect of ourself that we would like to forget can escape a nickname that sticks. Case in point: Chin, Head, Tall Man, Likkle Miss, Nosey, etc.