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10 major youth problems and solutions
Adolescence and transition
Adolescence and transition
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American teenagers are often criticized for being irresponsible and immature. Some in the older generation will also state that kids are taking too long to move out of the house. These views of young adults are pessimistic and demeaning to the current generation. While the adolescent stage has been extended, American kids are taking an ample amount of time to accept the responsibilities of becoming an adult.
The predecessors to the current generation often produce comparisons between their adolescent stage and the current one. In Newt Gingrich's article "Let's End Adolescence" Benjamin Franklin is praised for "mov[ing] immediately into adulthood" at the age of thirteen (Gingrich par. 4). What Gingrich did not account for is time. During Franklin's
youth, America was still a young country, there were not many educational opportunities, nor was there advanced technology.
Leon Botstein, the author of “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood,” serves as the president of Bard College, as well as a professor of arts and humanities. Botstein wrote this article after the tragic shootings at Columbine high school in 1999. This event triggered something inside Botstein causing him to think negatively about the American high school system. In the article “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood,” Botstein explains, in his own words, of the corrupt happenings of present day American high school (368-369). Although Botstein may have high credentials, he provides no evidence to support his negative claims and opinions about teenagers and American high schools.
We all remember the day of the Littleton high school shooting also referred as the Columbine High School Massacre. When the flashing new lines of CNN News. 1999) stated that 25 people were killed at the High School by two heavily armed male students that also took their own lives; it was shocking and very disturbing. news to learn that something so horrible caused these students to kill their own peers. What was the reason that drove these students to kill? Was the students bullying?
Arnett may not be inaccurate as he explains the differences in young adults today as previous generations based on the timing roles take place, nonetheless suggesting it as a novel universal stage causes concern globally. As mentioned in Cote’s 2014, Dangerous Myth of Emerged Adulthood, Arnett’s theory cannot be correct for all 18-29 year olds, nor did Arnett explore other countries across different demographics or non-college students, (L. Drew, Emerging Adulthood lecture, August 26th, 2015). Young adults appear to bounce around the workforce, however it could be because young adults are accepting employment they are not favorable of to aid them through college where at that point they can inevitably find the career they intend on keeping, opposed to Arnett’s reasoning for this to be “identity explorations,” (Cote, 2014, pp. 184). Arnett’s theory may be plausible for a selection of people in industrialized societies where their behavior can be seen as prolonging their “adulthood”. For example, young adults not feeling like an adult and who search for self-exploration, on the other hand perhaps he should consider a innovative term other than a developmental stage in life universally, (Arnett, 2000, pp. 479).
As a teen I see the world as an opportunity to better myself mentally, physically and morally. The best part about being a teen today is that there are so many opportunities to take advantage of like getting a job or joining a program that betters you mentally like the University of Maryland’s Young Scholars Program. Or going out of your way to play a sport that you never played before. Today teens have way more opportunities than their older generation counterparts. We have the ability to communicate through multiple means like Facebook, text, face to face, and much more. Teens today have more privileges than previous generations which makes life a little easier, however still must tolerate similar rites of passage like finding a first job and buying a first car which is always fun. As you get older you start to comprehend the additional responsibilities you have gained throughout the
This book is exactly what it says it is – a Guidebook or Manual for both parents and teens that offers insight and advice on a wide range of adolescent developmental concerns. Organized into convenient topical sections for both parent and teen readers, the text can be easily consulted when seeking advice on a particular issue, or simply read cover to cover. Either way, the reader will find a wealth of practical advice for both parent and teen.
First I’m going to talk about how this lie affects relationships between adults and teenagers. Here’s the problem; adults don’t expect enough out of teenagers today. When I was doing research for this speech, I came across the website parentingteens.com. This website popped up first on Google, so it must by good. Right? WRONG! I went to the “setting up expectations” section by author, Denise Witmer. The list of expectations is pathetic! For pre and young teens, the expectations are making your bed everyday, being able to take a phone message, and cleaning your room once a week with help from Mom and Dad. (parentingteens.com) There is a warning at the top of this list saying that these expectations might be overwhelming and too much for your teen, so just pick one to start with! The li...
Adults say things have gotten so much better for teens, that there’s so much less work. The reality of it is, some things have gotten easier, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t any less stressful. When today’s parents were in school, if they missed a day and there was a lecture in class, they had to hope someone took really good notes, because that one day was all the teacher had to explain things. Now, if kids miss a day or two, all they have to do is look up what happened in class on the internet, or email their teacher asking what they missed.
When we are teens we are forced to make more and more choices. These are no longer simple choices they quickly go from picking what flavor we want to what do we want to be when we grow up. Our parents no longer are there to hold our hand through the decision making process. They’ve let go of our hand to let us learn how to make “grown-up choices”. They let go of our hand to let us decide and assume responsibility to the choice we’ve made.
Have you ever heard of teen activists? They are very inspirational people. They are 13-19 year old girls and boys that see a problem and try to make it right. Also, they are passionate about advancing the cause for the ¨greater good.¨ It takes courage, passion and a plan to be like these people. In this essay I will be talking to you about Malala Yousafzai, Emily Rigel, and Faye Carey. They are three teen activists that took action and tried to help solve different problems for the ¨greater good¨.
I question if the next generation of young people will be able to think for themselves. If so, will the decisions they must make in life be adult decisions? Hovering parents are hurting society more than helping it, because the next generation is not learning how to be responsible for their actions and make their own choices. The next generation of young adults is not being taught the important life skills needed to thrive in today’s world. Adults who have never had to challenge themselves are not going up the ladder of success.
Current youth have very different life styles and expectations, consequently adolescents are taking longer to complete the transition into adulthood. Twenty-five years ago, the traditional norms were to get a job straight after school, start courting, get married, save up enough money to set up a home and eventually start a family.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Teenagers have it easy now-a-days, and there is little attempt to make getting anywhere hard on them, they practically have everything handed to them and once they begin to take it all for advantage they begin to slowly make mistakes. These mistakes are what eventually cause problems in their futures. Parents, schools and communities should work together to show teenagers a more real version of life so they understand that it isn’t all fun and games.
Adolescence, the period of life involving the transformation from a teenager into an adult, is a vital time in one’s life where many begin to unearth who they are and the very things they desire as they transition into the adult world. In J.D. Salinger’s timeless American novel, The Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden is a downhearted teenage boy struggling to leave his childhood behind in transition to the phony adult world he despises in order to explore universal themes including the phoniness of the adult world and the loss of innocence that is associated with the transition into adulthood. Through Salinger’s abundant use of symbolism, the reader is able to analyze Holden, his struggles, and angst towards change as he transitions into the adult world so that one is able to come to a deeper understanding and comprehension of the themes explored.
Adolescence is a period of transition from the children to adults. It is generally about 10 to 20 years old (McDowall, Loftin & Wiersema, 2000). Parents often help their children make decisions when the child is less than ten years old. For example, parents do not let children use an open flame. However, the children grow into adolescents who seem to possess their views and opinions on some issues and tend to be decision-makers in their life. This behavior leads to adolescents probably become more independent. Adolescents gradually get rid of the control of their parents to buy clothes and making friends. However, parents still are sole decision-maker in terms of curfews and amount of allowance. Table 10 illustrates to decision-making patterns of U.S. parents and adolescents on seven different aspects.
In America, the society runs on what teenagers want. From Nicki Minaj to the junior section at Sears, most of what the people see, hear, or touch is aimed at the teenagers. Being an adolescent is probably the most exciting and most popular time period in a person’s life. The teens seem to have it all, but what about the parents who raise them? The parents of the teenagers never get any credit during this time period, although they have every right to. Parents and teenagers should strive for a strong, lasting relationship for these years, though most times there isn’t one. The relationship between teenagers and parents is the most vital bond in the family because this relationship should and will prepare them for the next step in life.