Interviewee One: Emma 49 years old

1. Did you attend high school?  Did you want to?  What kinds of subjects did you study?  What kind of homework did you have?

Yes, I went to Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. Yes, I wanted to study. I studied sciences, English, social sciences, and math. Each subject had homework’s for question and answers or research.

• What was your cultural background?  What were the traditions that your family celebrated?  How did your cultural background influence you?

I am a white Christian like my family, with whom I celebrate Easter in April and Christmas on 25th of December. I become a staunch Christian, which gave me the confidence to stand for justice and morality.

• What was your family life like during your teenage years?  What were the expectations for teenagers with their relationships with their family (e.g., mother, father, siblings, grandparents)?

My family was loving, but they were overprotective, constraining my desired autonomy. My mom barely allowed me to go out for night parties, yet I felt I could take care of myself. My older sister had many privileges like care, yet I did not get them. Nevertheless, I had more freedom at my grandparent’s house than in my parents.

• Did you work as an adolescent?  If yes, where did you work?  How many hours a week?  Did you contribute to the family income?  Did you want to work?

Yes, I worked at our family business, and as a salesperson for an advertising company in Tennessee. I worked an average of 25 hours a week. I did not contribute to family income; I used the money on me. The decision to work was entirely mine since I wanted to work and have some money.

• What kind of clothes did you wear?  What were the “in” styles at that time?  Were you concerned about fashion?

I wore blouses and skirts, sometimes pants. Most people wore jeans and oversize clothes, but I was not interested.

• Who were your friends?  How did you and your friends spend your free time?  What were the popular teen “hangouts?”  Were you allowed to date?  What were romantic relationships like?

I had two girlfriends and one boyfriend. We often spent our free time in a hot spring at the nearby forest. However, the popular hangout was in very common concerts. Some parents allowed dating, but I was not. I cannot tell firsthand experience about romance was for adolescents.

• What were the problems you confronted as a teenager?

I was courageous, so I had to combat much bullying for others. Most of my agemates were also in drugs, which left me with few circles of friends.

• What do you think are the critical issues that distinguish teenagers today from teens during your time?  What do you think of today’s teens?

Technology is the main distinction. Now teens have access to much information through the internet. They are very enlightened.

Interviewee Two: Elijah, 93 years old

1. Did you attend high school?  Did you want to?  What kinds of subjects did you study?  What kind of homework did you have?

Yes, I went to Redlands High School in Redlands, California. Yes, I wanted to study. Sciences, English, social sciences, and math were compulsory, so I studied them. There was no much homework at the time.

• What was your cultural background?  What were the traditions that your family celebrated?  How did your cultural background influence you?

I am an African American Christian. I celebrate Kwanzaa, Easter, and Christmas holidays with my family. I am never anxious; the Bible says in Philippians 4: that “Do not be anxious about anything.”

• What was your family life like during your teenage years?  What were the expectations for teenagers with their relationships with their family (e.g., mother, father, siblings, grandparents)?

In my teenage, we had a great amount of connection and autonomy. We were all striving to come out of poverty. Therefore, my parents expected me as the firstborn to join them in parenting other siblings by being a good example. Overall, we had a good time.

• Did you work as an adolescent?  If yes, where did you work?  How many hours a week?  Did you contribute to the family income?  Did you want to work?

Working was not an option. I worked as a casual laborer in the steel mills, which was by chance. My income went direct to the family table to cater to our bills. I did want to work, but the wages were not encouraging.

• What kind of clothes did you wear?  What were the “in” styles at that time?  Were you concerned about fashion?

I mostly wore overalls. They were appropriate for work, and we could not quite afford fancy fashion like Hollywood gowns and sports clothes.

• Who were your friends?  How did you and your friends spend your free time?  What were the popular teen “hangouts?”  Were you allowed to date?  What were romantic relationships like?

I had many friends in the neighborhood, who we often spent free time in street corners. This was popular but chaotic due to poor policing. Teens dated within the black community, and most ended up marrying at 17 to 20 years.

• What were the problems you confronted as a teenager?

Our teenage life was problematic due to poverty caused by the great depression and the discrimination that had persisted throughout the south. Most agemates also did drug abuse and involved in crimes.

• What do you think are the critical issues that distinguish teenagers today from teens during your time?  What do you think of today’s teens?

A lot has changed. Now teenagers enjoy many civil rights, education is accessible to all, and there are many jobs. I think teens today are lucky.