Are you the change you want to see in the world? Look at a teen- then decide.
If you want to see the world in the eyes of a child- choose
a teenager. Right, wrong, or (often
times) indifferent, teens are the window into our culture. Teens are the mirror of society, and the
reflection of our core values. Being a
high school teacher, this is so apparent.
It may be surprising, but nothing is more translucent than a
teenager. They are often times the harsh
reality check that we need. The paradox
is, they are often times the voice of reason- in a very unlikely way.
Stereotype of a typical teenager: dramatic, indifferent,
hormonal, carries a unique fashion sense, and always attached to technology albeit,
iPhone, headphones, and everything in between.
The reality about this stereotype is its true! I see this on a daily basis. Students are constantly spreading the daily
gossip, talking in hyperbole over the simplest situations, and forever changing
their alliances. Then at times, the “lazy”
epidemic will sweep over the crowd, halting dreams and aspirations.
This is not new, the wave of misunderstanding teens will
forever be the chanted mantra. The
difference is, everyone knows about it quicker- it is constantly in our
faces. With the advent of social media,
mediums like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhoSay, and Tumblr, constantly
parade the social injustices felt by our teens and by our society. These problems are not new, they are just constantly
in our face; they are a reminder to everyone who sees that there is
unhappiness, restlessness, and a wave of misunderstanding.
It is so simple to make assumptions about teens and leave it
at that. But, teens are the mirror of
our society- what does that say about society?
Someone must buy the teen the iPhone, the $200 Beats by Dre headphones,
the questionable attire… yet after all of that, society is left wondering- what
is the matter with the teens of the world?
We are the matter. We are buying
it (therefore granting the approval of use), and then we get upset when they do
use it. What has that teen done to “deserve”
a reward? Are we granting wishes to
solve problems? Are we granting wishes
to make them or ourselves happy?
More and more, my husband will be out a restaurants and see
small children with their tablets, or smart phone watching something at the
dinner table- 12 years later, we wonder why the teen is incapable of holding a
conversation, maintain eye contact, or why the lack the general respect
expected to be in a public place. We
have stopped teaching it. There is no
longer fear of authority, because at an early, kids can block out what they do
not want to hear by resorting to their next gadget. Where has the core family values gone? Where have the morals gone? Why has the apathy returned? Why does laziness sweep the nation? Look through a teen’s eyes- we have fostered
it.
From day 1 we have given them countless methods to entertain
themselves so we would not be bothered, we have bought privileges, and failed
to explain the limitations to it, we have given in to questionable attire
without explaining the ramifications.
People may not like it or agree, but stereotypes exist for a
reason. That is not to say that every
person who fits in a particular category should be painted with the same brush,
but it is saying alliances and allegiances are made at a young age, and science
has proven time and time again that those with similar interest will inherently
gravitate toward each other. It’s basic
biology. Darwin noticed that. Surprised that the teen is acting the way they
do, dressing the way they dress? Have
you examined what they are surrounding themselves with?
Teens are a reflection of a culture’s values because they
enjoy pushing things to the next level.
Teens always have, and always will.
The result is it in our faces more, and while some may see that as a
problem, I believe it can be used to reshape the way our world is going. We do not want to live in a world where face
to face communication is rare, and working problems out in person is a thing of
the past. That has failed to work. My challenge- look at teens. Observe how they are viewing the world, then
reflect on why that could be. Teens are
like sponges and absorb outside influences- and they mirror what they are
taught- and do it in extreme fashions.
Are you doing everything you can to mirror the world that you want to
live in?
“If you suffer your people to be ill-educated and their
manners corrupted from infancy, and punish them for those crimes to which their
first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded but that your first
make thieves and then punish them?”
