Encouraging "authentic" expression over "perfect" curation can help alleviate the anxiety of being constantly perceived. 3. Preserving the Tenderness
A "helpful" approach is to provide a safe space—a "quiet gallery"—where teens can explore their emotions without judgment or the need for immediate toughness. How to use this for your essay: tender teen galleries
Focus on the "tenderness" of the developing brain and the impact of social mirrors (the gallery of peers). How to use this for your essay: Focus
As adults, we often try to "toughen up" teenagers to prepare them for the world. However, there is immense value in the tenderness of youth. Teenagers exist in a state of "becoming
Teenagers exist in a state of "becoming." This stage is inherently tender because the protective layers of childhood have been shed, but the calloused skin of adulthood hasn't yet formed.