Paoli High School
Paoli, Oklahoma
Teacher:
Melinda Alfred
Is
It Time For Local Communities To Initiate a Rite of Passage
For
American Youth?
by
Cami Bittle
12th
grade
908 words
From the beginning of time, there have been rituals performed by all
classes of society which could be considered a rite of passage. The question is, do we
have what is considered a rite of passage in our society today? Better yet, do we even
need a right of passage in our society? Many issues need to be considered before this
question is answered. Many things represent a rite
of passage in our society . For example, when a person turns sixteen, he or she is allowed
to get their drivers license. This in turn gives the individual more freedom, which then
leads to more responsibility, such as a job. In most cases the individual has to have a
certain level of maturity to keep the job, which causes some people to classify that
person as an adult.
Another so
called passage is the high school graduation. When we receive a diploma we are considered
an adult. Also, when an individual turns eighteen, he or she is given more rights. This
includes the right to vote and usually means we are looking for a place of our own to
live. At the age of twenty-one, our government has said we are adult enough to buy our own
alcohol. Then there is marriage. When we are married and living on our own we are handed
the responsibility of paying bills. We are then considered an adult. Most of these rites
of passage are based upon the age of an individual. This brings up another point about our
judicial system. When a young person commits a crime, he or she is tried for the crime
based upon their age.
All these
things I have mentioned are recognize by our society as a crossing over, but there is no
official time set where you become an adult. That is an opinion based upon how people view
you. We need a rite of passage in America because the title of adult, which has been place
upon so many, doesn’t always ring true.
When I
hear the word adult, I think of someone who is responsible, mature, and stable in life. I
don’t picture forty year old men or women living off the system and spending all
their time at the bars. I don’t consider an adult to be someone who abuses his family
and himself because something didn’t go the way he planned. Where is the maturity and
responsibility in that? This is why I disagree with society when it says someone is an
adult just because they have reached a certain age.
Young
people recognize the need for a rite of passage. As the required reading pointed out, they
are showing this by using drugs, joining gangs, and getting tattoos. These symbols make
young people look cool and mature to their peers, but they tell the rest of the world that
young people today are messed up.
When I
really thought about a rite of passage, I realized that most families already have one. In
my family, there are eighteen grandchildren. When we were younger and the family got
together for a meal, all the kids sat at a certain table. Now, as we’ve gotten older,
you find ourselves at the table with the adults. Also, when we were younger the adults
bought Christmas presents for all the kids. Now, we are included in the adults gift
change. These are small things, but they are rights of passage in our family. Even though
they weren’t noticed things at the time, they made me feel proud. I think this is
what we need in our everyday lives. The young people need to have something they can look
forward to and be excited about when they reach adulthood. It could be a test that is
passed or a ceremony that is performed, but adulthood needs to be something young people
are raised to take pride in.
I have
told you why I think a rite of passage is a good idea, but I also feel there is a
downside. If you take a look at our judicial system, which I mentioned earlier, you will
understand why. If we had a definite rite of passage there would be no question on where
to draw the line for crimes committed. This would mean someone who fell below the age of
the adult bracket, could go and commit a serious crime, which would deserve a more severe
punishment, and get off easy just because they were not an adult and they knew that.
A line
needs to be drawn so young people will know that they are expected to do better. A rite of
passage would set the young people out and make then more likely to take pride in their
position of accountability. Young people need to learn to be proud of their new life as
adults and do the best with the role they have been given. If young people feel they have
a certain standard, then they will be more likely to put all they have into it. This would
not only help all teenagers, but it would make our world a better place.
Answers
to required reading.
1. Mead
says young people “are becoming less than they might be.” The army says to “be all you can be.
“
2. I feel
all of these are still issues today, at least they are in my home.
3. Yes.
Culture: The cat of developing intellectual and moral faculties.
4. None of
the above.
5. I feel
like we need boundaries and structure. Most adults don’t realize
how hectic and crazy the lives of young people are today. We face things each day that our
parent’s don’t even know about. We need something stable we can hold on to. If
we don’t have structures and boundaries, then we are just roaming around.
6.
(1)Some
kids have bragged about coming to school
stoned.
(2)Drugs
have been passed in the break rooms in the hall.
(3)Friends
have been asked to go smoke joints at lunch.
7. I feel
like every time anything happens to one race they immediately start yelling racism and
discrimination. I f they would look past what was done to their ancestor and friends they
would realize that everyone is not out to get them. I’m in no way racist. Every race
faces people who think they are better. I think we all just need to get over it.
8. No No If all we had to do was go to class and
learn we would not be prepared at all for the real world.
9. I
disagree. It all depends on who you hang out with and your home life. Some kids will be
able to just pay their ways through life, but most of us learn to work for ourselves.
10. I agree that young people need adults to be close to. We all look up to someone whether we realize it or not. We all need someone to talk to, and someone who understands and cares about us.
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