Newell-Fonda High School
Newell, Iowa

 

 

Adolescents: The Adult Challenge

By Cory Sievers

Senior

 

Should local communities initiate a rite of passage for American youth? When asked this question many other issues surfaced in one of the many answers. In many peoples, personal opinion there should be “a rite of passage” but others also think that the local communities shouldn’t have to take charge. Many believe that today’s society overlooks the growth of kids into adulthood, and kids realize that. Some believe that the right of passage has to be a big deal or should be something drastic. A majority of kids doesn’t think that it should be some kind, ritual, or spiritual thing. Personal opinions suggest that if each country or small culture produced their own right of passage, it would eliminate many of the problems that emerge from the transformation of children to adults.

 

People think that with the advancement in every area of society, adolescents have less to worry about when in fact they have more. The amoral corrupt things that influence kids today range from drugs to relationships, and with the lack of positive things for kids to do, crime related activity becomes more accessible. The lack of structure in today’s society also starts kids off on the wrong foot. If the children aren’t given set boundaries and limits when young, there will be no control over them when they get older.

 

“To whom much is given, much is required.” “Freedom is demanding. Choice is stressful. Would we have it otherwise?” A lot is said in these few short statements, such as to those who are spoiled, more attention is needed. Many parents think that if their kids are given everything that they could want, their transition to adulthood will be much more subtle. When in fact, many kids think that it is because of lack of interest on the parent’s behalf that they receive meaningless gifts, rather than parent’s attention. Freedom is demanding but childhood is restrictive. Adolescents want to have the best of both worlds. They want more responsibility but not enough that would restrict them from staying out late or waking up late. A partial right of passage is to give teens that level of responsibility just for a short time. Many teens then realize that if parents approve of what they’re doing, they no longer want to do it. REBELLION. The major word for adolescents in today’s society if it doesn’t make your parents mad why do it?  Kids find more enjoyment out of disapproval than of approval. The nature of what is being done always asks the teen a question: if they do this is it something that their parents wouldn’t approve, and with that element of danger added, kids find things more exciting.

 

Choice is stressful, if all choices were predetermined; there would be no need for a rite of passage from childhood into adulthood.  Some choices that face adolescents may have no effect while others may last a lifetime. Many kids make wrong decisions the first time around and then correct them the second time while others seem to “get lucky” the first time. In many situations, the right choice isn’t always obvious; it is sometimes hidden behind emotions. Such as a break up in a relationship may not seem right at the beginning, but after time it has taught a valuable lesson.

 

Many other countries don’t have this kind of trouble because of their lack of technological development. Technology has played a very important part in the acceptance of teens today. Many cliches at schools have to do with technology such as: computer club, chemistry club, and the so-called “motorheads”, and of course without the right things many people aren’t able to belong to these groups. Kids in school today don’t distinguish the groups until something is said.

 

As is evident there are many things that contribute to the emotional and physical changes that take place in a teen’s transformation into adulthood. Whether it is choices that need to be made by the parents, to give more responsibility, or whether by the teen to make the right decision. Kids would rather have a close relationship with their parents than any expensive gift. In my personal opinion, too much emphasis is placed on money and if this trend continues if will be the downfall of everyone. When parents ask their kids what they want to do when they grow up, their reply shouldn’t be “something where I make a lot of money”. Something is seriously wrong when people begin to care more about money then their own or other’s happiness.

 

Answers To Questions Regarding The required Reading

 

1. She is saying that not all adolescents are being all that they can be because of the stresses that occur in everyday life

 

2. I think that the language that is spoken in the home today is very important because if the language that is spoke at home is different than what is taught in schools there is a language barrier that is impenetrable. I believe that family pressure on children is greater than ever before. Not only because of the problems, that are encountered in everyday life but also because of the traditional reasons such as sports, education. The misconception of race and color is not only greater than ever before but it has also broadened into other area. For example how wealthy your family is, how you dress, or whom you hang out with can also “label” you. I think that no matter how hard parents try to separate their children from knowing the truth about death, love, and birth their kids will find out eventually and more than likely if you don’t tell them a stranger will.

 

3. I believe that culture is man-made that is all I believe I don’t believe man is free to design it closer to the desires of his own heart. I think that with today’s society being so judgmental many people don’t want to do what their heart desires because of what others might think.

 

4. I believe that Margaret was trying to advocate an integration of the primitive and civilized. She knows that there isn’t a way to change it back but there is still time for society to mix the two and produce a happy medium.

 

5. Personally, I wouldn’t want more boundaries I feel that as of now I have plenty of limitations and have plenty of structure to my life. I do think that there are many parents out there that need to set more boundaries and need to set structure for their children to grow.

 

6. I have experienced many things in this area. I have been offered many of the things mentioned, and witnessed the substances being used. Yes it is a wide spread problem among today’s teenagers and does need to be dealt with but the way it is to be handled is of utter importance.

 

7. No, I don’t have a solution for the plight of the black teenager, and I think that if anyone had a logical solution there would no longer be a problem. The person that found the solution would also be widely recognized.

 

8. No I would not be relieved by something like that, if anything I would wonder why society would want to rob children of their education. I believe that half of learning involves involvement with the other gender, and with others of the same age. Therefore, home schooling would be out of the question.

 

9. To a point, I think that schools are like prisons. They tell you want you can and can’t do and when you can and can’t do it. I somewhat agree that schools are “dulled by the remoteness to the real world”. I think that today’s school curriculums have nothing to with the advancement of students in today’s society.

 

10. I think the “bottom line” is parents need to talk to their kids not only as parents but also as mentors or friends. By talking to them casually instead of “lecturing”, eventually more kids will listen and the messages will get through.