THE NOSTALGIA OF CHILDHOOD: The Shift from Childhood to Teenage hood OH! how fast we grew from the little child we were who once lived a carefree, stress free and fun filled life to becoming a teenager within the blink of an eye. Oh, how time files. A time when joy came from cartoons, playgrounds, and our imaginations. We ran barefoot on dusty roads, laughed till our stomach ached, and cried only when our toys were taken away. Those were the days the world felt safe. Back then, all we had to do was eat and play, we never had to worry about bills, responsibilities, or expectations. Sometimes, I wish I could stay a child forever, but sadly, teenage hood has dawned on us, ushering us into the kaleidoscope of life. Little did we know that this new phase would bring along so much confusion, growth, pressure, and self discovery. Oh, how I miss those nostalgic moments of childhood, when we played in dirt without a care, came home messy and smiling,watching cartoons without understanding much of it, and still laughed like it made perfect sense. Back then, joy beamed from our hearts, and smiles never left our faces. We didn't care about how we looked,what people thought, what the society expected or tried to compare ourselves. The times where jealousy didn't cloud our hearts, times where we were all like one big family. No hatred, no gossip, no betrayal; just pure friendship and oneness. Even when our parents warned us not to play with the neighbor's children or even someone else's child because they were bad kids, we still went anyways because, in our little minds, connection mattered more than caution. No emotional stress, no pressure, just freedom. Childhood made me feel effervescent and garrulous, full of life. Truly, childhood memories are priceless. Now as we stand on the edge of teenage hood, we find ourselves looking back missing that innocence. Now, I find myself wondering what this new phase holds. As I go to places, I experience sonder, the sudden realization that everyone has a story. I look at other young people like me and ask myself, "What's going on in their minds too?", because this new phase has brought more than we expected; emotion, peer pressure, silent battles and the need to find ourselves. The shift is sudden, one day you're chasing butterflies, the next you're chasing purpose. WELCOME TO TEENAGEHOOD