I sound like my mother, complaining about 'kids' growing up too fast.

I browse through my facebook news feed and I see several pictures of girls in my school. I am only fifteen, barely in the senior cycle, but when I see these photographs, I feel old. 

Let me explain, these girls are only thirteen years old and yet I've seen more of their bodies than anyone should. Too much of them is spread over the internet. These images are harmless to me, but to the paedophiles that are constantly being 'friended' on facebook and are seeing far too much of these girls.

Of course, the older male attention is not just because of paedophiles, with the amount of slap on their faces, very little clothing, high heels that would break their slim ankles and push up maximise bras, some might argue they are asking for it.

Rumours are spread around my all girl's catholic school very fast. So although these girls are two years below me, I know a lot about them. I know everything from what bra size they are to what they got in their christmas exams. I have a cousin, who is the same age as these girls. He tells me what these girls are like with their friends. I find out that some of these girls, barely ready for tampons, have given head to several young boys. 

My question is, are they growing up too fast? Or is society so fast moving that sex should happen as soon as boys hit puberty? 

I sometimes think about when I was their age, I was outspoken and loud and didn't think about what I said. Yet I thought having a boy touch my boobs would have to wait until I was at least sixteen, I cared about my grades top much and I was afraid to tell my mother I had friends who were boys.

However, I wore belly tops, died my hair purple and had a boyfriend who I never really spoke to in person. Our version of flirting was him stealing my shoe and me chasing him for it. But when I was given a childs menu in a restaurant I took the highest offence sharply telling the waitress I was a teenager. I wanted to go out drinking, wear high heels, go to discos and have a summer romance. That was my aim in life. I no longer wanted to be a child. 

So are these young girls the same as me? 

Maybe they're me but a faster, more advanced version of myself three years ago.