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Adolescence must be one of the most traumatic and turbulent stages of human
development. Often still childish and immature, adolescents are nevertheless
eager to become adults. However, some adolescents want to be adults without
the responsibilities that come with being one. Perhaps that is why we hear
so much of adolescents being involved in cohabitation, pre-marital sex,
illegal abortions, cases of abandoning babies, smoking, and the list goes
on. An adolescent wrote to a local newspaper, "I suppose there are some
advantages in being over 18 -- no parental signature needed on application
forms, having your own driving license, coming home late, having my views
heard and being consulted when family decisions are made. But I dislike the
prejudiced looks thrown at me just because I dress differently, wear black
nail polish and numerous earrings. I feel I am being forced to conform to
norms and standards imposed upon me by society. So on behalf of all young
people struggling to maintain our individuality, I
beseech to be understood. I may dress differently and appear to
be eccentric and crazy ... but it's all part of growing up."
The cry for compassion and understanding of this girl who wrote the
letter echoes similar cries of many adolescents. While they enjoy some of
the privileges of adulthood, they also find the adult norms and expectations
restrictive.
Newspapers usually publish articles of juvenile
delinquency, giving the impression that today's adolescents are
far more notorious than those of their parents' generation. What is often
forgotten is that the sins of today's adolescents receive more media
attention and coverage than, for example, the case of an unwed pregnant
small town girl of yesteryear.
Making mistakes is a part of growing up. Regardless of the magnitude of
their mistakes, the most important thing for adolescents is to learn from
their mistakes and to lead successful and productive lives -- just as most
adults have done.
If adults were honest with themselves, they would admit that they too
have stumbled along the way. So they should not condemn the younger
generation when they make mistakes. It was said that the great inventor,
Thomas Edison, who had 10000 failures before discovering the light bulb
claimed that he learned 10000 things that di not work from those failures
which provided him vital information. The information eventually led to his
success.
Therefore adults should always be sympathetic to the dilemma that
adolescents go through. They should not condemn adolescents when they make
mistakes. Instead adolescents should be given the space to grow and to learn
from their mistakes. |
