If you were obsessed with being “cool” as a teenager, you’re not alone. And if you now realize you weren’t as cool as you thought you were, you also aren’t alone. As these “Blunder Years” pictures thankfully prove. The teenage need to be cool is actually quite normal. And that’s because of a few factors.

You might remember your teen years as a time you were exploring your identity. According to the Parenting Teenagers Academy, because many teens are unsure of themselves, they tend to feel insecure. One of the safest ways for them to feel accepted is to get into the “in crowd”. “Being socially accepted is something that most humans (regardless of age) strive for,” reads the site. “And by being cool this is the quickest way to get there.”

The need to be cool and popular is also a cry for attention. Insecure teenagers might seek validation to feel better about themselves. The same can be said for insecure adults. It’s about ego… The academy teaches parents that the ego is formed during the teenage years.

“The ego loves to be cool because it will feel more powerful,” reads the site. “Its sense of self worth is being established and it gains a hold on your teenager, at least until they can learn to strike a balance between their true self and ego self.”

What’s considered cool to one clique, might not be cool to another. For some, rebelling is the ultimate act of coolness. “Many teenagers feel that by associating themselves with particular music, clothes, and culture, they’re rebelling and this makes them cool,” notes the Parenting Teenagers Academy site.

According to NPO Child Focus, teenagers rebel for various reasons. They could be searching for their identity, asserting their independence and autonomy, or they could give in to peer pressure. Adolescence is a time of self-discovery. And teens might be questioning “values, beliefs, and authority figures to form their own sense of self,” suggests Child Focus. “This can lead to rebellious behavior as they try to establish their own identities separate from their parents or guardians.”

In 2022, The New York Times asked 18 teenagers what they loved most about being their age. Not too surprisingly, fun, freedom, possibility and independence were among the top coolest things about being a teenager. “I am a 16-year-old teenage girl. I have slumber parties with my friends where we eat snacks and talk about boys and post embarrassing photos,” wrote one respondent, who might already be planning her future “Blunder Years” posts.

“I go to bed late and wake up tired on Monday mornings. I wear small clothing — I wear obscenely oversized clothes. I put glitter on my face and shout cheers with kids I barely know at sports games and pep rallies,” continued the teen.

Another respondent said they think "the best thing about being my age is knowing you can make mistakes." We'll cheers to that. As might anyone else who has a hidden stash of dusty blunder pics, and a head full of regret.