Stressing for success

If you think it's easy juggling school, homework, jobs, sports, friends and family, think again. Students cope with complex schedules and still try to have a life.

SuddeniInterest in teen society?

Every time I sit down to watch television or access the Internet, I see or read something about the horrible decisions teenagers make. This recently intrigued me enough to do some research. I read about the morals and ethics of the teenagers around me from various sources. After hours of research and personal observation I have come to agree with the TV and Internet on the subject.

According to soundivision.com, four in 10 young women in the United States become pregnant at least once before turning 20 years old, 66 percent of 18-year-old females have had sex, and 68 percent of 18-year-old males have had sex.

Every day at least 3,000 young people under the age of 18 smoke, eight young people a day die in alcohol-related crashes, 80 percent of teens have consumed alcohol by the age of 18, 40 percent drink alcohol when they are upset, 31 percent said that they drink alone, 25 percent reported that they drink when they are bored, and 25 percent said they drink to "get high." Each year students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol (more than they spend on soft drinks, tea, milk, juice, coffee or books combined).

Every day in America, 135 children bring a gun to school. Every day in America, six teenagers commit suicide.

Every day in America, 211 children are arrested for drug abuse, and every day in America, 3,288 children run away from home.

This leaves many people, including myself, asking themselves why this has happened. Many blame it on the fact that one in 12 teens are victims of violent crimes, or that 56 percent of teenagers say marijuana can be easily obtained, or that 52 percent of teens, I being one of them, have a TV set in their bedroom, or that 61.5 percent of parents don't spend time in meaningful conversation with their teenagers on a monthly basis.

Perhaps it is the 85 percent of teenagers who claim that church and God do not play an important role in their lives.

No matter what the numbers say, the fact is that right now in our society teenagers are committing more "evils" than ever before. Teens indulge in these dangerous behaviors even though there are currently more active programs and outreach organizations than ever before. Although it helps, this doesn't mean that the problems of my generation are easily and readily solved.

Anton Chekhov stated, "Man is what he believes." The majority of my generation believes that these actions and behaviors are acceptable. This creates fear of what the future of our country holds.

On the bright side, 70 percent of people have a "Bertrand Russell" attitude. Russell stated many times, "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong." Obviously, people are willing to change.

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen," Frank Lloyd Wright said.

The interest that society has shown in my generation proves that they still believe in us and believing is what will create the change that is needed.

ANDREW BUTTRY

Jackson High School

A biased account of teen stress

"Get off your behind and do something!" Hardworking parents say this often. They don't realize teen life is stressful. They believe school life is simple, but that's baloney. Any average Joe-somebody teen could tell you it's harder than parents assume.

How about starting with classes, shall we? While flipping through the handy-dandy handbook, graciously provided by counselors, I can't help but wonder, "What classes do I need to stay 'ahead of the game'?" Such choices as AP, advanced sciences or mathematics boggle our minds.

Making decisions like choosing a life career isn't easy at our age. In today's world, it seems like we have to be the best to enter a decent college. With the current economy in mind, we realize that without good grades, sufficient scholarships or amazing athletic capabilities, it's difficult to work ourselves into a college that can provide life's knowledge.

Speaking of life, my next topic comes to mind.

Parents conclude that we spend surplus time socializing. With the latest instant messenger, high-speed dial-up, and those nifty phones that are see-through, it's hard to shun gossiping to friends about the latest on that cute guy cracking jokes at so-and-so's party. However, isn't this where we learn life's qualities? If we spend a generation with our faces shoved in books, not only do our books have face prints in them, but we don't learn skills we can only get through human interaction. We enjoy these moments, and parents pushing us harder into books only proves that they don't understand.

I also regularly hear about the homework load courteously given by beloved teachers. They all furnish their share of homework; however, with seven classes, "a fair share" adds up. Also, our book bags occasionally feel heavier than younger siblings.

Think about this: School is seven hours. Then, we get a good-paying job from 3 until 6, which is three hours. Also, we have homework and/or a test or two; that's two hours. Some people enjoy sports or other activities. Those practices take up to two hours. That alone -- not including the time we arise, shower, eat Frosted Flakes and leave -- is 14 hours. Studies say young people need around 10 hours of sleep to have the best health. So far, 24 hours of our day is taken. Do we get time to be ourselves?

Life is demanding for any teen. We might not pay for a house, three cars, two cell phones and the other essentials; however, that's not our job. We are supposed to go to school, learn, live, love and laugh. We do the best we possibly can, but when parents yell as if we're doing everything wrong, it makes life more arduous than it ought to.

My point to parents is, please understand life isn't easy. There are strong pressures, and we're working on keeping it real. Give us a break once in a while. Our brains won't leak out, I promise. Finally, remember: "Life's tough: Get a helmet."

KELSEY GJERSTAD

Jackson High School

If I were given a dollar every time someone asked me what my future plans are, I could buy every journalism school in the country. I could even start my own multimillion-dollar corporation producing a cutting-edge fashion magazine.

Senior year in high school seems to suddenly indicate that I should instantly have my entire life mapped out in detail. If only it were that easy!

It is funny though, because ever since I can remember I have always known what I wanted my future to be. As a preschooler, I wanted to be a singer, just like Amy Grant. Amy Grant was my idol back then. I even dressed up as her for Halloween. Then I started to realize that maybe Amy Grant was only my idol because of my mother's never-ending CD collection. She had them all, even the Amy Grant Christmas albums!

Then I decided I wanted to be an actress. I even took acting classes and actress Claire Danes became my new idol. But as my grade school years passed by, my future careers changed from architect to lawyer to businesswoman.

Then I realized architecture involved math and law was maybe not such a great idea. So I was determined to be a businesswoman. I had mental pictures of myself walking down a busy street in Chicago, wearing a stylish business suit, stiletto heals, carrying a Prada briefcase and importantly discussing business plans on my tiny flip phone. Now that sounded glamorous! I never once thought of what kind of business I would actually like to be involved in. Nevertheless, that remained my future plans for much of high school until my senior year.

Senior year, I became the editor of Notre Dame's School newspaper, Hi-Lites. I have always had a passion for critiquing papers for people in composition classes, and so being an editor seemed like something I would enjoy. So before senior year had even started, I hit Staples and Target to buy the perfect office supplies and accessories for my editor's desk. I even decided on a theme, and color-coordinated everything purple from my stapler and my magnetic paper clip holder to my tape dispenser. I even have a paperweight with my name on it! I officially became Meghan Jones: Newspaper Editor.

Finally senior year began and I could not have been more excited. It is one thing to write for a newspaper because I love writing, but there is something special and exciting about being an editor. I am allowed to do virtually everything I want with my school's newspaper, (with the help of my advisor, Mrs. Dinah Seabaugh) as long as it is tasteful and classy. I redesigned the entire layout of Hi-Lites; I decide story topics and assignments; I critique over thirty drafts each month; and I am deemed the Queen of Office Supplies. As silly as it sounds, I am in heaven!

I suddenly realized that I should not always look to others for inspiration for my future. Two years ago I would have never guessed that my freshman year in college I would be majoring in pre-journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the top journalism school in the country. Amy Grant does not fit into that equation.

However, when I dream of my future, I still imagine myself wearing stylish business suits, stiletto heals and carrying a briefcase and cell phone. I even imagine having the perfect office supplies, except this time with a purpose in mind -- to be myself, an aspiring journalist.

Meghan Jones

Notre Dame Regional High School.