"Adolescence represents an inner emotional upheaval, a struggle between the eternal human wish to cling to the past and the equally powerful wish to get on with the future"

Adolescence is often described as a tumultuous phase, where profound emotional change occurs as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood. Louise J. Kaplan’s insight highlights the deep psychological conflict experienced during this period. The urge to “cling to the past” embodies the adolescent’s desire to hold onto the familiarity, security, and simplicity of childhood. Childhood represents a time dictated by fewer responsibilities, protected by parental care and societal shelter. Letting go of this phase can generate anxiety, loss, and a sense of vulnerability. The past provides comfort in its predictability and safety.

At the same time, the adolescent is drawn powerfully toward the future, eager to assert independence, explore new identities, and make choices that forge a unique sense of self. The “wish to get on with the future” symbolizes the excitement and ambition of moving toward adulthood, embracing freedom, setting goals, and imagining possibilities. The adolescent is no longer content to rely solely on adult authority; there is a strong motivational push to experiment, challenge conventions, and solidify autonomy.

These two drives often collide, resulting in mood swings, rebellion, confusion, and a constant push and pull between dependency and independence. Emotional upheaval stems from the fact that neither desire can be wholly reconciled or ignored, the longing for the lost innocence and safety of childhood is present alongside the need to pioneer a self-determined future. Adolescents might nostalgically reminisce about their earlier years, even as they strive to break free from parental influence and societal expectations. This dialectic engenders both pain and growth, serving as the crucible in which adult identity is ultimately forged.

Ultimately, Kaplan's words capture the universal struggle inherent in adolescence, a period marked by contradiction, vulnerability, and the forging of a new self as the past is reluctantly left behind and the future is anxiously or eagerly embraced.