Ah, the teenage years: the most exciting and impressionable time in our lives. Now is when we learn who we truly are, who we want to be, and what we want to become. The teenage years are a time of learning and expansion, allowing us to discover what we’re interested in, find our passions, and teach ourselves how to be contributing members of society. Being a teenager is when we have the opportunity to explore the world and our place in it without blockades such as parental restriction, financial incapability, and opportunity… right? If only.
Our society at large has unfortunately and generally dismissed the majority teenagers as unimportant. Schools focus on athletics rather than developing an array of options for development for teenagers. We have a very narrow-minded approach when it comes to investing in teenagers. If a program or club or activity isn’t generating an abundant amount of income, it’s cut without thought. In fact, according to usnews.com, funds for the arts and humanities have been cut in more than 80% of schools nationwide. They may not be making as much money as the football team, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t positively contributing to the growth of teens.
And that’s my concern. We aren’t realizing that we need to continue to fund programs and clubs that pique all students’ interests. We are holding back on spending money and time on the development of our future: teenagers. And I’m afraid that this mistake could devastate our society. In the not-so-far-away future, teenagers will be the ones at the top of our businesses and our government, so it’s important to give us a voice and fund what we care about.
I am fortunate enough to have programs like these in my life.
From the beginning of my high school career, I have been a member of my school’s speech and debate team. This team and this activity, though vastly under appreciated in my school and the nation, has allowed me to find my voice and discuss issues that I care about. It has made me a more outspoken, more passionate, and more active member of my community.
Moreover, this past summer I was lucky to be selected to attend the Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). At this program, 43 high school students across the state were chosen to join together for three weeks, learn about entrepreneurship, and develop business plans and ideas. Oh, did I mention that the program is completely free? This hands-on, field trip filled, government-funded program provided me with valuable qualities that I would have been able to find nowhere else. GSE taught me to look at the world as an entrepreneur and inspired me to pursue a business-related career.
In addition to those two, Affinity Magazine is another amazing example! Using the Internet and social media, we give teenagers the power to express their voices on the issues they care about. The simplicity of our mission, combined with the time our staff contributes, gives the control back to teenagers. We bring teenagers back into the conversation and offer amazing opportunities for journalistic and social growth.
And that’s all it takes: time and money invested into teens to make them the best they can be. If we take an apathetic approach to the development of teenagers, our society will suffer. We teenagers have to help adults realize that what care about will make us into worthwhile members of our communities whether it’s choir, art classes, speech and debate, or journalism; every students’ interests matter, and it’s time for it to start being showcased by the actions of adults.
