Since 1991
youth are the main focus of all The Students Commission's
conferences. From racism to alcoholism, youth were the
main concern. The Students Commission stands by its " for
youth by youth " saying.
" Youth speak, Canada listens
"
Youth
[top]
"Sometimes you can't see things when
you're too close to them."
You know, when you stand really close
to a painting and all you see is a bunch of squiggly lines,
yet when you take a couple of steps away, it all makes
sense.
Or when you're in a relationship and
people outside of it make observations you would never pick
out. Just because you are too close, and in actuality you
are a part of the picture.
We, being the Students Commission, we
can't really make any precise observations about "youth"
just because most of us ARE young, some biologically and
some at heart. We also refuse to be looked at as guinea
pigs, that are observed and studied. But then again, who can
stop sociologists? If they can make observations and
conclusions about the elderly, the baby boomers then why not
teens?
Discussion
[top]
The word and label "teenager"
originated in the Western society around 1940. It is a
social phenomenon that crystallized at mid century in
America. Youth today are taking matters into their own
hands and attend conferences, where they can be heard and
take action on the issues that they believe is important,
for example child poverty.
'American civilization tends to
stand in such awe of its teenage segment that it is in
danger of becoming a teenage society, with permanently
teenage standards of thought, culture , and goals. As a
result American society is growing down rather than up.'
--Grace and Fred Hechinger, 1963
When you are expected to
act as an adult.
Driving
(alone)
|
17-18
|
Voting
|
18
|
Drinking
|
19
|
Working
|
15
|
Marriage
|
18
|
Losing Virginity (on
average)
|
15
|
|
|
Recommendations
[top]
There are none.
But because this is The
Students Commission site, we have ONE.
If you want to live a
psychologically healthy life you must embrace the
teen years. On average, your teen years take up 5%
of your life. Don't rush them!!
In other cultures, once you
hit puberty, you're an adult and you have to have
kids. Even in the Western culture not everybody
gets a chance to live their teens to the fullest.
ie teen pregnancy, drug abuse, heavy
responsibility, younger siblings, poverty etc.
Books and Authors to read
:
Marcel Danesi, Cool: The
signs and Meanings of Adolescence
Douglas Coupland, Generation
X
Lawrence Kohlberg
|
![Invisible gif](images/pixel1.gif) ![More](images/more.gif)
|