Evelyn McFarlane - If.... Questions for Teens

I t's either the best period of your life or the worstusually both. It's either the coolest age to be, or the one you can't wait to grow out of. No one understands you, and too many people seem intent on trying to get you to live your life their way. Our teenage years are some of the most challenging of our lives. But of course they are also great fun. Privacy. Freedom. Respect. Responsibility. Trust. Money. Why won't they give you a bit more? Are you an adult? A kid? A hormonal stew? A future world-saver? All of the above? Love. Looks. Brains. Talent. School. Sports. Piercings. The Web. Music. What's important to teenagers? Anything? Everything equally? Do you know what's going on? Do you know where you're going or where you're coming from? Do you know what kind of person you want to be or what kind of life you want to create for yourself?

If is a book, a game, or even a journal to start you asking questions of yourself, of your best friend, on a date or at a party Try to guess people's answers first; fill in the margins of the book with your own new questions; send out a juicy one on the Internet and collect great replies; or have your friends write down their answers on the pages to look back on later in life. Make it an adventure!

Who are you?

The world will be yours, so it might be a good idea to find out. And the answers are all there, behind the door that is you. Just inside.

Open it

I f you were to predict what your generation will contribute to the world, what would you say?

I f you were to name a belief you hold that is different from that of all of your friends, what would it be?

I f you were to name the person you try to act like the most, who would it be?

I f there is one mistake you would like your generation not to repeat, what would you say it is?

I f you were to describe the ideal after-school hangout, what would it be like and who would you, want hanging out there?

I f you discovered your boyfriend or girlfriend seriously flirting with someone else, what would you do?

I f you were to name the coolest person in history, who would it be?

I f you were to describe the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend, what would you say?

I f you could be invited on tour with one rock band or musician, even just to watch every night, which one would you choose to go with?

I f you were given the money to buy one single thing that would fit in your room, what would you want?

I f you had an amazing first date tonight, who is the first person you'd tell about it?

I f you could be picked up from school by someone famous, and make sure all your friends could see, who would you choose and how would that person arrive?

I f there's one way in which people tend to treat you younger than you are, what would you say it is?

I f you could change one thing about the way your parents act toward you, what would it be?

I f you could master one extreme sport, which would it be?

I f you could hack into one person's, or company's, computer, whose would you break into?

I f you went shopping with a friend who suddenly started shoplifting something, what would you do?

I f your boyfriend or girlfriend wanted to date other people in addition to you, how would you react?

I f you were to quit school right now and leave home, where would you go and how would you spend your time?

I f you had tonarne the most unfair thing or decision your parents have ever done or made, what would it be?

I f someone asked you I whether it was better to have older parents or younger ones and why, how would you answer?

I f you could have a fast-food restaurant replace your cafeteria at school, which one would you choose?

I f you were to devise a test for picking worthy friends, what would it entail, and what questions would it ask?

I f you wanted proof of your best friend's loyalty and trust, what would most readily convince you?

I f you could make sure that three words were never used on the Internet, which words would you ax?

I f there is one place you'd never want to be seen with your parents, where would it be?

I f you had to predict the worst thing you will witness in your lifetime, what would you say?

I f you were to describe the ways in which boys are more competitive than girls, and vice versa, what would you say?

I f you could become the ringleader of any social group at school, which would it be?

I f your mom or dad asked you if you've ever been kissed, how much would you tell them?

I f you could make someone at school have cosmetic surgery, who would you transform?

I f a very close friend of yours discovered she was in trouble, and told only you because she was scared to tell her parents, what advice would you give her?

I f you could get all the gossip on just one person, who would you choose to know about?

I f your website could do anything or be anything, how would it be designed and who would you want visiting it?

I f you had to name the most male habit you have, and the most female habit, what would you say?

I f you could keep any one I thing in your locker, and have your locker next to that of anyone in your school, what would it be, and who would you want to be next to?

I f you were in a chat room Band decided to lie a bit about yourself, what would you make up?

I f you had to give up TV for one year, what would you do with your extra time?

I f you could date any member of a boy band or girl band, who would you pick?

I f you had to spend a night alone in a haunted house, what three things would you take with you?