A boundary is a real or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of something and separates it from other things or places
-Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Setting boundaries is important to life without which there is disorder. Countries, states, towns and villages are separated by boundaries. At home, boundaries are set by parents; school authorities set boundaries for their students, and organisations have boundaries for staff and non-staff.
A teenager has a set of boundaries he/she must observe. For example, it will be out of bound for a child who does not have driving experience or training to attempt to drive his/her parents’ car with/without permission from the parents, to do such is to overstep his/her boundary. A student who beats up his father or mother is overstepping his bounds. In school, you would see inscriptions such as “Out of bound” on doors like, the school’s science laboratories, studios, et cetera. Why? Because such places are restricted to some set of people and there are consequences for contravening such inscriptions.
As a teenager, you also need to set certain boundaries to guide the course of your life or else anything goes. For instance, you can set boundaries as regards your body when it comes to the opposite sex. If you are a female there is a limit to how close a male can be to you. A male friend, teacher or uncle for no just reason has no right to touch or play with your private parts i.e. breasts, armpit, bum under the guise of playing with you. This is because if you do not set boundaries but tend to ‘enjoy it’ when those parts of your body are played with, chances are you are creating the opportunity for you to be abused sexually. The same applies to male teenagers. You should set boundaries concerning your body.
You also need to set boundaries as regard the people you associate with, because the wrong company can destroy your destiny. I believe if you want to be among the best in your class or in a particular subject you have got to set boundaries. You cannot aspire to be the best in your studies by playing around. You have to be discipline when it comes to managing your time, the guys you spend time with. You have got to set boundaries concerning the success of your academics. You do not have to be in the ‘good book’ of a classmate who does not prepare for test or examination but would want you to help him/her in the examination hall. You don’t want to experience what will happen if you were caught? You may have to face a panel and be suspended from school, and off course you will fail the subject.
Setting boundaries can be very instrumental to achieving success in life. When you set boundaries, it helps you to be principled and disciplined. If you want to lose some weight, you cut down on your diet…you don’t go on chocolate and soft drink adventure for example. You know you also need some exercise.
When you set boundaries, it helps in your choice of friends. If you don’t encourage cheating definitely some people will keep away from you because of your stance.
Olanrewaju Gbekeloluwa