TIME is working on a special report about various aspects of what it's like to be a 16 year old in the U.S. today. If you are 16, we invite you to tell us, in 300 words or less, about your life and what's on your mind.

Some people call 16 the gateway to adulthood; do you agree or disagree? What are your relationships like with your parents, friends, boyfriend or girlfriend? How much do you worry about your appearance? About fitting in? How do you spend your free time? How much of a role does technology play in your life? What do you think about the race to get into a good college? If you don't plan to go to college, do you feel that high school is preparing you to earn a good living? Have you ever thought about joining the military, even if it might mean going to Iraq? How do you feel about the big issues of the day: terrorism and the war, immigration reform, same sex marriage? What do you think is the biggest challenge facing people your age - drugs, drinking, gambling, interracial relationships, sex? Who are your heroes? How important is religion to you?

There's no need to answer every one of these questions, just pick one or two that you feel strongly about and tell us what you think. The deadline for submissions is June 30.

Be sure to come back to see the best responses, or pick up future issues of TIME magazine.

Tell us what you think

Comments:
Name:
E-Mail:
City, State: