Featured Image Credit: JEP Live Music / Alamy Stock Photo/Per Grunditz / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Greta Thunberg, Environment, Food And Drink
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Greta Thunberg, Environment, Food And Drink
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has opened up about how her life as a 19-year-old girl has been impacted by fame.
Thunberg may look like your average 19-year-old, but she is far from it.
While most of us were skipping school to smoke our cigarettes behind the bike shed or swig WKDs in the local park, Thunberg was running off to protest for more action to be taken to battle climate change.
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The youngest Time person of the year has since revealed the impact becoming so famous has had on her growing up and what sacrifices she's had to make for the sake of forcing world leaders to address the climate crisis.
When questioned if she hadn't even had a quick drink during her surprise appearance at Glastonbury festival, the 19-year-old told The Times: "I would never go out drinking."
She explained she 'would never do anything stupid' and reflected she doesn't know if that's simply because she's 'that kind of person or if is because [she doesn't] want to be ‘seen’.'
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"I guess it could be both," she resolved.
Despite being at the age where many of us have already sunk a good few shoulders of Glens in our time, Thunberg confirmed she has never gotten drunk in her whole 19 years of living.
She explained she worries people may try to get her drunk just to be able to say they were the first person to have managed it.
Thunberg also opened up about her fears surrounding flirting or dating.
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"Yeah. If I come up to them, you’re more vulnerable. So you have people looking up to you, but you’re also much more vulnerable," she explained.
Ultimately, while Thunberg appears to have a lot of power - having hilariously trolled the likes of former US President Donald Trump - at the same time, she feels like she has none at all.
"It’s difficult because, in one way, I feel like I’m just an activist – we know how to organise a strike, how to talk to politicians," she continued. "But on the other hand, my position is very different [from other activists]. There are very few who have the experience of being a grassroots campaigner and also being followed by the paparazzi. Someone recently told me I am an influencer, but I don’t like that."
Her work as an environmental activist may have cost Thunberg a lot of her privacy and the ability to grow up and make mistakes like any normal teenager - having had security guards during one period because of the rape and death threats she's received on social media - however, Thunberg still retains an element of normality, walking home by herself, booking her own trains and where she stays and bringing her own food too.
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Thunberg concluded: "But we’re not doing all this because we want to. We’re doing this because it seems like you have to do something."
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone