From a young age, we’ve been told that there’s only one of us, that we’re different, that we are extraordinary. We’re told to only just be ourselves because that’s what makes us different, that’s what makes us unique. Many teenagers go through a phase where they tend to view the world through rose-coloured glasses, often in a state of blissful denial of reality.  This commonly drives teenagers to have an element of self-obsession, that they are different enough not to maturely fit in with people their age. Ayesha Momeni (aged 15) thinks that “there’s a personality or a side of me that people don’t get to see or understand”. This perspective can lead to a sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy and a strong need for admiration.

In our teenage years, we’re hungry for the validation of others, to prove that we are someone with the potential to be impactful. Alayna Afzal (aged 11) suggests that she is a “deeply empathetic person and can feel for everyone”. The internal monologue of romantising life usually stems from past events, we believe the difficult moments were meant to have led up to this very life, instead of accepting the lack of purpose. We will commonly attribute ourselves traits that make us feel like a “good” person, these traits are ones people who have wronged us have lacked.

In this state of mind, teenagers may tend to overestimate their abilities, and may have unrealistic aspirations and goals, Maymona Bint Faisal (aged 11) believes that she “will be comfortable with money, and not worry about it at all”. They may believe that they are destined for greatness, and that success and happiness will come easily to them.

Research has shown that this type of thinking, known as "unrealistic optimism “, is prevalent in teenagers and young adults, and it can lead to negative consequences, such as poor decision making, lack of perseverance and a lack of motivation.

Additionally, teens in this state of mind may often romanticise their own life and may not see the reality of the situation they are in. They may downplay or ignore problems in their relationships, or brush off concerns about their academic or financial situation. This can make it hard for them to make positive changes in their life.

Because picture this, reaching your twenties and feeling like you've been duped, like the life you thought you were going to have been slipping through your fingers. The disillusionment can be overwhelming, leading to a lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and even depression. It can make it hard to form healthy relationships and make successful career choices.

As individuals, we are but mere mortals, occupying a small place in the grand scheme of humanity. Though each of us possess our own unique attributes, collectively, we are but a fraction of the whole.