Youth is a
very important period in the life of every man. This is the time when a person
discovers the world and tries to determine the place in the universe. Young
people face lots of problems, which are very important for them and don't
differ much from those that once their parents had to deal with. At the same
time every generation is unique. It differs from the one that preceded it in
its experience, ideals and a system of values. The adults say that the young
people are not what they are. These words are repeated from generation to
generation. To some extent they are true, because every new generation grows
up quicker, enjoys more freedom. It is better educated and benefits from the
results of the technological progress of time.
Young
people of today don't directly accept the standards of their parents who
believe that they are right because they are older. The adults don't want their
values to be questioned. The young people can't accept the values of their
"fathers". All these differences generate a generation gap when the
young and adult don't understand one another. As a rule, the adults who are
dissatisfied with their own lives teach the young how to live. Unfortunately,
the adults apply old standards to the new way of life. They can't leave behind
their "good old days". This burden is very heavy. They think that the
world is going down the hill. They gloomily look ahead unable to understand the
optimism of their children, who want to pave their own way in life. The majority
of the young people don't want to live in the past. They have their own ideals.
They want to make their own mistakes, rather than to listen to the warnings of
the adults and repeat the mistakes of the older generation. They want to
overcome their own difficulties without looking back. However, the life of the
young people is frequently determined by the adults. I think that parents will
never understand their children. And the children, in their turn, shock their
parents with their dress, language, behaviour. The existence of subculture
which is specific for every generation is a form of protest of the young
people against the values of the adults. Thus, informal
groups, such as Hippies, Rappers, Rockers, Bikers, Punks, Goths, and Acid House
appeared as a kind of protest against the values and lifestyles of the older
people.
Traditionally,
young people were looking at their elders for guidance. Today the situation is
different. Sometimes the young people share information and experience with
their parents. I think that it isn't bad, especially when the adults really try
to understand, what is going on in the lives of their children. Moreover, teenagers grow up so quickly that
they almost don't have time to enjoy their childhood.
Another
problem that teenagers face today concerns their relationship with their
friends. As far as friendship is concerned, I think that a person can and
should have a lot of friends. He or she can be on good terms with the
classmates. But at the same time there can be only two or three real friends. I
believe that real friends will never betray each other. They will always
understand and help each other. I agree that tolerance is the pledge of
friendship. It is wonderful if a school friend remains your friend for the rest
of your life. But in this case everything depends on the person.
The problem
of love is very important for young people. Today they fall in love when they
reach the age of Romeo and Juliet. Romanticism and idealism very often
accompany the love of the teenagers. They can love deeply and passionately,
they believe that their love will last forever. Unfortunately, often their
hearts are broken. Young people are not always ready to have stable relations.
In many cases they are too young and inexperienced to begin a family life. They
have to continue their education, while family obligations will force them to
make money. At the same time without good education it is not easy to find a
good job.
Communication
has always been an important part of teenager's life. Today they can choose
between traditional and new ways of communication. Traditionally the young
people meet after classes with their school friends, make parties, go to the
cinema or disco clubs to have fun, relax and acquire new friends. But if the
young people don't like noisy clubs and other places of entertainment, they can
find friends without leaving their homes. The Internet gives such an
opportunity. Although this international Web Wide World is intended for
getting knowledge, only few users employ it in this way. Others use different
computer programmes to chat with their friends from all over the world. They
can sit for twenty-four hours staring at the monitors. Such teenagers don't
eat, sleep, work or study. Their parents think that they are doing nothing, but
this isn't absolutely correct. The only thing many teenagers are interested in
is navigating through the net and checking their e-mail boxes. And it is a
great problem of the present and future.
As you see, young people have a lot of big
and serious problems. But all problems of youth are linked with the present.
And when they grow up, they don't have such problems anymore.
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