"All teenagers have this desire to somehow run away"

Adolescence is a period marked by emotional turbulence, self-discovery, and a longing for autonomy. Joan Chen’s observation about teenagers’ desire to run away captures an emotional truth at the heart of growing up. This urge doesn’t necessarily refer to a literal escape, but rather an internal yearning to break free from restrictions, expectations, and the perceived monotony of their current environment. Teenagers are caught in a liminal space, they are neither children nor fully independent adults. As they start to forge unique identities and carve out personal philosophies or views, they often feel misunderstood by the adults in their lives, particularly their parents.

This search for independence can manifest as a craving to distance themselves from established rules, household habits, or the social frameworks of school and family. The appeal of ‘running away’ lies in imagining a world where personal choices, rather than external pressures, guide one’s actions. Fantasizing about escape is a symbolic way to assert independence, reject conformity, or experiment with boundaries. It’s linked closely to the adolescent process of differentiating oneself from authority and the comfort of childhood dependence.

For some, this impulse is rooted in a desire to reinvent themselves, step out of prescribed roles, or escape emotional burdens such as academic pressure, peer conflict, or familial expectations. For others, it’s about testing limits, seeking adventure, or simply experiencing solitude and self-reliance. Importantly, this urge is a universal experience, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. It should not always be viewed with alarm. Rather, it can represent a healthy component of maturation, a signal that young people are grappling with profound questions about identity, belonging, and the direction of their lives.

Ultimately, the desire to ‘run away’ is less about physical departure and more about the quest for selfhood, empowerment, and a place in the world defined by one’s own terms. Through this struggle, teenagers move closer to adulthood, learning to navigate desire for freedom and the realities of responsibility.