Living in a small town undoubtedly comes with its charms: close-knit communities, picturesque landscapes and a sense of familiarity that can be hard to find elsewhere. 

However, wander around Alexandra on a Friday night and you'll find the pre-teens skating at the ice rink, the working adults out for drinks or dinner, and the high school kids nowhere to be seen. 

Chances are they are at a mate’s place having an illegal drink or at home attached to social media, bored as usual. 

We teens could go out for dinner but when there are only about two restaurants in town it becomes pretty repetitive. 

Repeating those same plans every weekend eventually gets tiring and makes the back pocket feel less heavy, especially when any money you have is precious.

Bustling cities offer an array of entertainment options with the likes of cinemas, amusement parks, shopping centres and other activities. Teenagers in smaller towns often feel left out. 

One might argue the charm of a small town lies in its simplicity, and that teenagers should be content with nature's beauty and quietude. However, it's important to recognise that we adolescents are at a stage of life where we seek exploration and self-discovery. 

We crave experiences that allow us to interact with peers, learn new skills, and broaden our horizons. Depriving us of these opportunities in the name of tradition risks stunting our personal growth and future prospects.

Why can’t we have the likes of a local arcade?

In a town where there is a high number of teenagers, you’d think targeting that age group would not be hard. 

The absence of diverse activities is one reason why many of my peers yearn to leave small towns. Higher education and job prospects pull us towards urban centres where there's a plethora of opportunities - and more fun to be had.

As a result of the lack of activities, local teenagers are also becoming more and more disengaged. That is especially prevalent at schools. Very few have the desire to get involved in activities or help out. In some aspects, we are becoming lazy. 

I don't think we will see much of a change in Alexandra as solutions will be placed in the ‘too hard basket’ or any solutions offered will not be enough to satisfy teens. In the meantime, we will continue to make regular journeys to Queenstown just for the chance to eat at a different restaurant, try some new shops, and find a bit of entertainment.