A battle is defined by what you choose to fight\struggle for: not what I say

I know that even when I'm no longer a teen, I won't ever forget any of the experiences that made me who I will one day be. I will remember what is now the present and it will haunt me or, bring me pleasure or hurt me, or make me feel loved. Never again will I shut out memories I didn't like or memories too full of shame to learn from.
(that was my battle and it may never be over but now I have peace )

Recently I've been reading the Freedom Writers Diary, and they speak about an undeclared war they are fighting, a war of the streets. I believe there is another battle different then their very real war, that all teens have to fight. It's changed, and remained the same. We are still fighting for a right to express ourselves, we are still fighting for define who we are because even we don't often know, we are still fighting for a release of our pain and sorrow in a world I think has been built for adults. Today in the end of 2007 we are fight the images the rest of the world has set aside for us to conform to , we are fighting for some things that have always existed but its only today we know what it is we are fighting. Anorexia\bulimia, stereotypes, Girl Aggression\bullying, the heirarchies that define our school lives, cliques\groupings and for some of us exposure to gang rivalry and violence. These are really only a slight mention of the battles we fight everyday. I consider the struggles battles.
(I know this is long, I'm long winded working on it though)

Write me a poem, story, informal reflection or writing piece about a struggle, battle, undeclared war that happens during childhood or being a teen or growing up.
OR
Write about when you knew you were no longer a child, when you felt like you were a teen or an adult.
""We fight so hard as children to grow up, but when we do we would kill for one more moment of childlike innocence."

Not all of us are teens now, but all of us were teens at some point, at least technically. Feel free to reminisce and remember and retell.


Rules.
1.No erotica-if there are adultish themes be careful but you can post but if its listed under adult then I can't read it.
2. You can enter more then once
3. No sticky caps or anything like that its really annoyin
4. Comment on someone's elses or I won't consider you-because you will grow as a writer just as much by reading as you will by writing
(thats probaly someon'es quote I paraphrased..not sure whose though.)
5. Make it well written, take your time, I can try to extend the date if needed. Message me and I will do my best.
6. Sorry too many rules but do a grammar\spell check
[no word limit] But I get bored easily though I like this topic.OK, done talking sorry.
Write and be free!