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.

• About Youth
• Discussion
• Recommendations

" Youth speak, Canada listens "

Youth

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"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

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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

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