Adolescence is the period of life between childhood and adulthood, roughly from ages 10 to 19. During adolescence, your body grows rapidly and changes in ways that prepare you for adulthood. You might shoot up several inches in a year, your voice might change, and you'll likely feel hungrier than ever before.

But adolescence involves more than physical changes. It's also when you start thinking in new ways, questioning ideas you once accepted without much thought, and forming your own opinions about the world. You might find yourself wanting more independence from your parents, caring deeply about your friends' opinions, and wondering about big questions like what kind of person you want to become.

Adolescence can feel confusing because you're caught between two worlds: you're not quite a child anymore, but you're not yet an adult either. You might handle some situations with real maturity, then feel completely overwhelmed by others. This is completely normal. Your brain is literally rewiring itself during these years, developing the parts that help with planning, decision-making, and controlling impulses.

Different cultures mark the passage through adolescence in different ways, from religious ceremonies like bar mitzvahs and confirmations to social milestones like getting a driver's license. An adolescent is someone going through this stage of life, though people often use the word teenager to mean the same thing.