Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.

Independence, trust and freedom: A story of four teens

Michelle McHugh (17), Ardara, Co Donegal: My family will be away for two weeks this summer, but they trust me to stay home. They always give me freedom and independence. I will have a few friends over, just people I trust, to keep me company. Teenagers often get a bad reputation from extreme parties in the news, like on the show Skins. This is unfair because my friends and I are responsible. We know how to have fun and take care of each other, but that doesn't make the headlines.

Sheelan Yousefizadeh (16), Dublin: I will go on holiday with my parents this year. The only time I traveled alone was a school trip to Barcelona, which was fantastic, but we had to follow the rules. Bringing alcohol would have ruined it. I moved to Ireland from Iran five years ago, and it took a while to understand how teens and parents interact here. I don't have as much freedom as my friends. I always ask for permission and tell my mum where I am.

Markus Knutsson (16), Mallow, Co Cork: I won't travel with my family this summer. Instead, I'll work at a local café to save money for concerts. I have a good relationship with my mum; she trusts me because I'm always honest. I do attend parties where there's drinking, but only a few people drink excessively. Most of us know how to manage ourselves responsibly.

Philip Martin (14), Belfast: I dislike how people assume all teenagers are troublemakers who just want to get drunk. Last week, when I entered a computer store, the security guard told me to remove my hood because it looked suspicious. I felt embarrassed and guilty even though I hadn't done anything wrong. Although I'm too young to be alone for days, my parents let me stay home this summer while they work. If I handle it well, they'll give me more freedom next year.