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Being a teenager is difficult. You are stuck in a time of perpetual in-between where you feel as though you are old enough to have your own personality, make your own decisions, and ultimately be an autonomous, independent being. But, at the same time, you are still financially and emotionally dependent on your parents, have to live by your parents' rules, and abide by rules that you may feel are "cramping your style" and not allowing you to be the person that you want to be. Although many teenagers face the same issues and must overcome similar obstacles, minority teens are even more at a disadvantage. When it comes to school challenges, minority teens have a plethora of issues that they must learn to deal with.

Being classified as a "minority" simply means that you exhibit some characteristic(s) or possess some trait(s) that basically set you apart from the larger group. In many cases, minority students are from different ethic, cultural, religious, or socioeconomic groups that are less represented in a larger population. For this reason, many minority students come from backgrounds where they do not speak the same language (or are not as fluent in the language) as the majority of their peers.

Whether you are a recent immigrant or a student visiting a country abroad, you may face certain social challenges if you do not speak the predominant language. How are you supposed to make friends with people with whom you cannot communicate? Communication is essential to establishing, building, and maintaining interpersonal relationships. As a result, many minority teens must go above and beyond to learn the majority's language. Some students may be teased for thick accents or an inability to fully grasp the majority's language. If this is the case for you, remember that practice makes perfect. You're much more likely to make friends if you do your best to "fit in" by learning the language and practicing with peers that are from the majority group. Don't be discouraged if you are teased a bit at first, or made fun of for your linguistic mistakes. At the end of the day, the more you put yourself out there, the more people will respect your efforts and the more you will learn. Eventually, you may find that you have learned a whole new language, and you will ultimately become a more well-rounded, interesting person for it. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Afterall, reaching out may just help you make even more friends.

Another challenge faced by minority teens

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