Centerville High School

Centerville, South Dakota
Teacher: Mitch Russell

 

 

Challenge
By Amy Ostrem

 

 

Challenging is a word you could use to describe the change from childhood to adulthood. As a child you are able to depend on your parents.  They provide for you, and look after you.  Some kids may not have parents, but most children today have someone to care for them.  As we get older the challenges begin.  All of a sudden decisions appear into your life that you never even had to think of as a child.  People are constantly asking me what college am I going to and what am I going to do in the future.  Even deciding on what food I want to eat at the mall is a struggle at times.  Stress, is becoming a big issue for today's teens.       

 

In the 1870's, I would probably be married and depending on my husband.  At that time a woman wouldn’t have to worry about school, getting this essay done, or what she wanted to be.  Most women of that time worked at home and took care of the kids.  Now women are almost able to do everything a man does and have the men stay home with the kids.  Things have changed a lot through the years and will probably keep changing, and probably keep putting more pressure on teens. 

           

We teens and kids are going to be the future, and they have to know that a lot of kids are smart, and know what is going on.  If adults don't listen or try and understand what is going on in our lives, they could mess up a kid's future.  Most people want to be listened to, and feel like they are a part of what is going on.  If adults could encourage kids and make them feel like a big part in today's society they would have the determination to make themselves a better person and go out there and try to be the best that they can be.  Many kids and teens aren't living up to their full potential, because they feel left out and no one will listen to what they have to say.  Education is a big part.  If the teacher is good they will do all they can for their students helping them learning and getting them ready to enter the real world.  Without that, kids may not even find their potential.

 

We as teens have to try as well; we can't go around and do drugs and other things that can get us into trouble and wreck our lives.  Even though it is out there and much easier to get than it was many years back, we need to be strong and stand up for what we know is right.  We need to remain active and try to stay away from these things.  That is why school needs to be enjoyable to go to,  so kids can't get so bored.  Teachers have to care about what the students are doing and try and keep them going. 

           

I think Rosie O'Donnel is very good with kids and teens and knowing that they know what is going on. I saw a kid on her show that knew all the presidents and paid pretty close attention to what was going on with each one, and that just shows that we do know what is going on and that we should be respected.

           

Money has become the most important thing for people today. People are so into it now that they will do anything and everything to get it, and that is wrong. It is good that we work for money and try to make a living, but we shouldn't make that our number one priority. People really need to start enjoying life more and being more caring toward one another. We are fortunate enough to live in America where we can have our own religion and have as many kids as we want, and many other things, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. We need to meet up to our potential, but enjoy life while doing it. For many people it is a struggle, but we need to help other people along the way. I know that people aren't going to be perfect and no one ever will be, but we have to try to do our best in all that we do and not put so much pressure on ourselves and others.  Life doesn't have to be so hard, it is what we make it to be.  We just have to prepare for the future and be all that we can be.

 

Answers To Questions To Required Reading

1- What does Margaret Mead say at the start of her 1961 Preface to Coming Of Age In Samoa that is reminiscent of a current Army recruiting commercial?

 

I think that she was saying that people are not living up to their potential.  They become less than what they should be.

 

Q2- Which of the following issues of the 1920's are no longer issues today?

          

1. The importance of the language spoken in the home.

2. Familial pressures on children.

3. Misconceptions about race and color

4. The effects of artificially separating children from a knowledge of birth, love and death

 

I think all of these issues are still used today in all parts of the U.S.

 

Q3- Do you agree with Margaret Mead that "culture is man-made and that man is free to design it closer to the desires of his own heart"?  What definition of "culture" do you find in your dictionary?

 

Yes, I agree that culture is man made and is changeable.

 

Q4- In her writings Margaret Mead was advocating:

 

1. a return to primitive ways

2. greater knowledge and control over the civilizing process

3. an integration of the primitive and civilized

4. none of the above

 

She was advocating #2 a greater knowledge and control over the civilizing process

 

Q5- Do you and your peers really want adults to recognize what is going on and to enforce "boundaries and structure"?

 

I think that it depends on the case.  Some things the parents need to know so that they can keep things under control, but sometimes the adults just create a bigger problem and nothing gets solved.

 

Q6- Write three things that you "absolutely, positively know, saw or experienced concerning drugs and alcohol among" students at your school.

 

I know that some people are doing drugs, and alcohol.  I have never actually seen people doing these things, but I know it is out there.  I have smelled it on some people, and I figure they are into it.

 

Q8- Would it be a relief if all you had to do was "go to classes and learn"?  Would you be happy if you were home-schooled or attended a single-sex private school where academics were presented in an exciting way and learning was admired even by peers?

 

Yes, I think it would be a relief if all we had to do was go to class and learn.   Sometimes it would be boring, but it would take a lot of pressure off me, and I think kids now a days go through a lot of pressure.  I would not like being home-schooled or attend a single-sex private school.  You would not be able to socialize very well.  I like to go out at night with my friends, and if I am home schooled it is harder to have fun with my friends.  At public school you can make fun memories.  At a single-sex school, being with the same sex day after day would get old.  I enjoy being with boys. Being without them, I would get bored.  They may get annoying at times, but it passes and the next day they are nice again. 

 

Q9- Comment on the line from Pete Seegar:  "Schools are like prisons because they don't teach you how to live" and Jonathan's comment "People in school are dulled by the remoteness to the real world." Would more classes incorporating community-based learning be helpful?

 

Pete Seeger's comment on "Schools are like prisons because they don't teach you how to live" is kind of true in some ways, because a lot of kids go out into the world not knowing what to do, and get in major debt because they don't know what they are doing.  It would be helpful to incorporate community-based learning. If it were open to students to take I think many kids would take it.

 

Q10- Comment on the "bottom line"

 

I agree with what the "bottom line" has to say about everyone needing a mentor.  Everyone wants to be loved and have someone to look up to, and so that they become what they want to be and maybe someday become a mentor themselves.  People need guidance and help, and many people are getting what they need.