I have to say, I was a bit of both at school – a goodie two shoes, and a rebel. In my classes I was always teacher’s pet – except in the ones I didn’t like, or didn’t get on with the teacher. Then I was their worst nightmare, backchatting and smartmouthing them. Not doing my homework. Skipping classes (maths and French, mainly). I think my parents knew little of this tho, because most of my reports for those classes were like ‘Bunneh could do so well if she just applied herself…’ I think the teachers felt shitty because they couldn’t get it out of me, lol.

But socially, I did get into boys and alcohol fairly young – like 15 or 16. Although most of the kids in my year were bragging about losing their virginity by 14, whether they’d done it or not. Maybe I was a late bloomer by their standards.

Anyway, my Bestie’s mum was a model in the 60s and she’d done it all, so nothing her daughter did worried her, because she’d done worse! She would drop us off at a nightclub in town, with drinking/cab money, then lie to my sooper sensible maths teacher mum about where we were and NOOO she could not pick me up early the next day coz… um… it’s not convenient. Certainly not coz she has a hangover 🙂

But I dunno if my experience was typical or not. Maybe for a Brit 😀

How interesting that you found out that so many of your sorority sisters were virgins! I have to admit, I know next to nothing about sororities, so it’s always refreshing to hear more about them.

They are soooo much better than I was as a kid. A lot depends on the crowd you associate with. Just lIke you, Mrs. Cow.

You’re right on about the generalization, though. When I got to college I was O.O about how many of my sorority sisters were not just virgins, but had done no more than kiss. Either I grew up a little fast, or they were flat liars.

I’ve never understood the parental fear of having sex, drugs and rock and roll depicted in YA novels. Having raised 3 teens and witnessed the range of “rebellion,” I’m convinced it’s as much about personality as exposure to knowledge and opportunity. Which isn’t to say that a YA author doesn’t have a certain responsibility to not glorify potentially life-ruining events in a teen character’s life. But it’s equally questionable not to offer a realistic perspective. As you say, some kids do, some kids don’t. Some kids will, some kids won’t.