What's it like to be a teenager? Interviews -- Cori Anderson

As part of my investigation, I asked a few teens what were their main worries being teenagers, what was important to them, how they envisioned their future...Since I am considering specializing my podcast on how being a teenager abroad changes from being a teenager in "mainland" countries such as Europe, the USA or Australia, I also asked people who know both situations what they think of that.
Note: All of the interviews were realized over MSN/Facebook chat, so some abbreviations and other little details have been changed to make them easier to understand.

Cori Anderson - 14, Mongolia

Cori is American and she has lived in Mongolia for the last 3 years. She attends an internet school, but meets other teenagers in a co-op school every day. Her dream is to become an actress, either in plays or in movies.

As a teenager, what’s important to you?

Um…I guess the colleges I want to go into. And relationships with other people. Friendships, etc…Boys aren’t that important. Just a means for excitement. Nothing serious, just drama.

What stresses you out?

I don’t really care about peer pressure, but I’m trying hard to get into Juilliard [fine arts school in New York]. I’m really worried about my future, college is important to me.

How has your relationship with your family changed?

They like me less…and I get in trouble more.

How do you think being a teenager abroad changes from being a teenager in the USA, for example? Which one do you prefer?

I’ve never really been a teenager in America, but I guess that in Mongolia you have more freedom. You can go around more. I don’t want to live in either, I want to live somewhere else. Anywhere else. But I guess I would prefer the USA…

Anderson, Cori. Personal interview. 08 November 2009.

Picture of Cori. 2009. Facebook. 09 November 2009 < v="feed&id="1569865993&story_fbid="1224314099214#/photo.php?pid="2752250&id="830178376">