Many kids today wonder what it was like to be a teenager long before they were born. Mr. Santos shared some memories of his own teen years, offering a glimpse into a time when technology was far less advanced. There was no virtual reality, high-end gaming consoles, or 4K televisions.
“When I was in middle school, we didn’t have cell phones,” Mr. Santos recalled. Instead, people used landline telephones with cords and rotary dials.
Today, people spend a lot of time on their phones — playing games or scrolling through social media. Unfortunately, this also means cyberbullying has become more common. While bullying still existed in the past, it didn’t happen online. Computers did exist, but they were much less advanced. Instead of spending hours indoors on devices, teenagers back then spent most of their time outside. Mr. Santos remembered hanging out with friends, playing games, and enjoying sports.
One of his favorite activities was using the computer in his free time, but he also loved just being outdoors. He noted that today, people often stay inside because of the convenience of phones, tablets, TVs, and more. Back then, families enjoyed being active together. Family functions often included outdoor activities like camping, something Mr. Santos feels has become less common today.
During his teenage years, Mr. Santos watched cable TV, which offered only about 10 channels—very different from the hundreds available on modern televisions. Fashion was also a big deal. Teens expressed themselves through different styles such as nerdy, jock, grunge, preppy, and more.
Mr. Santos had a surfer aesthetic. He wore bright colors, shorts, flip-flops, and styled his hair to look wavy. Sometimes, he also wore ripped jeans. One thing he misses about his teenage years is the lack of responsibility—no worrying about jobs, taxes, or cooking for a family.
Now an adult and a parent himself, he finds it amusing to look back and realize how much his parents supported him. Today, he owns a house and handles the chores himself.
If he could go back in time and give his teenage self advice, it would be: “Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up.” Becoming an adult brings responsibilities like marriage, buying a home, and maintaining a career. He wishes he had taken more time to enjoy being young instead of rushing into adulthood.
Friendships were incredibly important to him as a teen. He valued spending time with his friends and even decided to go to college because his buddies were going. One of the most important lessons he learned was to be a loyal and honest friend—always being there when someone needed advice or support.
