It is hard to be an adolescent. It is harder to be an adolescent in the United States. This is a far important point for me to realize as a future teacher here. Physically, culturally, and socially, the case in China where I grew up is similar yet different

and somehow may seem to be easier for teenagers. Physically, the Chinese people experience less apparent body changes than people of other races here, which made the differences that some students always get picked up on not that distinct to start with. Culturally, in Chinese schools, the phenomena of students being laughed at for being different is not as common as it is here in America due to the very strict bringing up by both parents and teachers. Socially, Chinese teenagers sometimes look at the sudden change of body into maturation as mostly embarrassing and do not get any privileges out of it like American kids do in terms of confidence, success in athletics, leadership roles or popularity among peers. So this does not really pose the problem in China like it does here that late developers get bullied for being different. So it is actually surprising for me to see this problem as so serious as depicted in the article. But I can understand the situation and the reasons for it. I also believe that an open, honest and communicative atmosphere in class should be able to help most students to understand this phase and the difficulties facing them and prepare them and also let them know that we as teachers are always there for them.