When I was about 16 and in the height of my rebellion as a teenager, I got kicked out of school for lack of attendance. Actually they made me quit so they wouldn't have to kick me out which would give me the chance to return if I got my head straight. I had to get a job which then gave me the not so bright idea of running away - for which I ended up in juvy. The court assigned me to a counselor, a young woman in her mid twenties whose name I can't remember. I gave her a lot of baloney about my parents - mostly about my mother who I was convinced hated me at the time. She listened for awhile to my tirade and told me something I found quite profound at the time. She told me that for all the trouble and grief I was causing my parents which was really to myself, that in only a couple of years I was going to be free of them and able to live my life the way I wanted - that my life would be my responsibility. Then I could do what I wanted and did I know what I wanted to do? She said that what I lacked was any plan as to how I was going to do that when the time came. I found this very enlightening and freeing and made a choice on the spot to change my mind about how I was looking at things. I went back to school, quit the acting out crap and focused on getting decent grades - which I did. Happily ever after has not happened yet, but her wisdom definitely caused me to turn my life around which I have not forgotten.