At 18, I can’t say that I already have a say on this earth, BUT the thing is, at this age, I’m one of what adults believe to be the disagreeable, rebel, hopeless, liberated, part of the population. I’m a teenager. And this is my side of the discussion.
Culture, Religion, and the modern world all affects how we see ourselves and how we would want others to see us. Culture and Religion somehow say the same things like save your Vcard. Particularly to girls, it is not proper to sleep with a guy outside marriage. It is a sin and a disgrace. The modern world however, shifts from this to that. Interactions between cultures today are so easy that the youth grows up getting different influences, therefore making them far different from the youth of the past decades where there’s less media and no internet.
Before, kids have no choice but to follow whatever they are told. They had a good living based on strict moral values, they experience life slowly, learn their rights slowly, and by the time they knew they have freedom for their own choices – BOOM!—they’re already our parents.
Kids now however are very open to a wide variety of influence source. They learn to speak up earlier, know their rights earlier, and speak up for their own choices. This is my generation, and this is where the issues begin.
I’m not saying that the rules and values of the past generations are lame and unacceptable. The point is it is different now. For example, the “No sex before marriage” thing. I might save my virginity until marriage but if I do, it would be my choice and not because it is what’s acceptable. Or the people idolizing Lady Gaga which is very much opposed by the Church (now this is really getting lame, religious learders). What I only want to say is that everyone has their freedom to choose who they want to be. As part of this era, there are values that we keep, and there are choices that we make. This may sound rebellious but the kids today only want elders to understand that this is who we are, this is what we want. I myself would consider my parent’s opinions but the final decision for my life would always be mine.
To adults out there, I know you wouldn’t take me seriously until I’m 25 but who says that? Try listening to your child. ;)