Old vs. New
Since the beginning of time – or somewhere
around that era – people have always had
two problems. Well, besides surviving and all
that.
One of the problems is adults dealing with
teenagers. The other is teenagers dealing
with adults.
We almost never see eye to eye, and most of
the time we disagree on things.
The problem is the fact that humanity is
evolving.
The previous generation grew up not having
a lot. We grew up having a bit, then the big
Smartphone Boom and stuff hit, and now
we’ve got a lot. The next generation after us,
the three year olds with the iPads, are
growing up with a lot.
Emma Sidor, an eighth grader here, says that
she believes adults see teenagers as people
who don’t think about their actions. In her
eyes, teenagers are on the web because there
a so many cites dedicated to the age group.
And she believes that teen restrictions aren’t
fair, saying that ‘we [teenagers] are able to
set our own restrictions and can be
responsible about them.’
From just these ideals, you can see how the
views are different.
Emma might look at adults and see people
who criticize people in her age group and try
to keep them in a box.
Mrs. Salmon gives her own opinion.
“Teenagers rebel because they’re branching
out for the first time.”
Mrs. Salmon might look at teenagers and see
children who try their best, but need a bit of
guidance and rules to pave their way.
A sixth ideal is that of Stephanie Thomas, a
substitute often seen here. She says that
teens rebel because they want independence
from their parents.
The assumed theory is that because the
teenager, Emma, in this case, had not ‘grown
up’ and/or ‘been through hard times,’ she
sees things through a child’s lens. But Emma
isn’t childish at all.
Now, with social media and almost every
family having a T.V – so they have the news –
we know about ‘creepers’ and shootings and
riots and everything.
She works hard and faces problems with a
strong mindset. Sure, she’ll laugh with friends
and joke around, but she doesn’t have
‘restrictions on her views.’
So parents get a little protective of their kids
and their kids start understanding things.
They start knowing things.
That right there can be considered the
common mistake. There are teenagers out
there that see things like an adult. As said
before, with all the news and media, this
generation, this technology enhanced era, its
people are learning fast. They’re realizing
fast.
…………..My point proven.
So, anyways, they had the ability to do more
stuff in the neighborhood as a kid. We, as
‘tweens’ and/or teens, have the ability to do
more stuff across the country and globally.
So everything’s basically different. But people
will always try to see eye to eye. I interviewed
three adults and three teenagers, asking
them similar questions in hopes of finding
some kind of silver lining.
Mary Salmon, a teaching assistant here at
Wredling, says that teens are driven, wanting
to do a lot and trying to reach their goals in
life. She explains that she believes teens are
on the internet because they now have the
answers to questions at their fingertips.
And to her, restrictions on the age group are
there for a reason, even though teenagers
may not see that reason.
“We can’t help it,” Ellie says, “It’s a normal
part of growing up.”
Emma say’s we go against rules because we
want to stand out and get attention. “We
have lots of energy and don’t have lots of
ways to get it out in a fun way,” she says.
“That’s why we act the way we do.”
Times are changing, and people’s childhoods
are going to differ. When adults were kids,
they could do tons of stuff outside and
everyone was friendly and they all skipped in
flower beds and blah blah blah blah blah.
Even though most of us were a tad bit over
sheltered. Did you know that Goldilocks was
eaten by the Three Bears and that Ariel
committed suicide?
Another eighth grader, Ellie Armstrong, says
that it’s not just in America, the land of the
free. She says teenagers have been rebelling
for a long time.
In this new age, we’re indirectly forced to
grow up a bit faster. We know what things are
like in the world. Even though most of us
don’t act like it.
Karen Kim, a teacher here at Wredling,
believes that teenagers ‘experiment’ by
trying different things in attempt to find
experience. “Teenagers are interesting,” she
said, “They want to learn in their own way.
They’re young and they’re learning.”
Michael Waldrop, an eighth grader, sees
things bit differently. “We do stupid things,”
was his almost immediate response on how
adults see the age group. “We’re growing up
and our attitudes are changing,” he says.
Michael thinks that teenagers go against the
rules because they know they can. “It’s a free
country,” he explained, “We’re allowed to
rebel, so we do it.”
There are tons of theories out here. Adults
look back on their teenage years and try to
match them with the current teens’ behavior.
But the gap between technology and
thoughts and eras and, well, everything
makes it hard for them to understand what’s
going on.
We’ve got the biological part of life down pat,
but the mental part? Ha, don’t even try. They
look at things differently, they see things
differently.
Hey, they even had an online argument over
whether a dress was black or white.
If the teenagers agree on one thing, though,
it’s independence.
Ellie says to “cut us some slack,” when asked
what she wanted to say to overprotective
parents.
“Sheltering us isn’t helping,” she continued,
“We’re trying to figure out the world. We
know you love us, though.”
Emma’s response was shorter: “Give your kid
a chance to prove themselves.”
“Give us some freedom, it’s okay,” Michael
says.
Old age views will always conflict with the
new ages ideas. Sometimes, you just have to
realize you won’t be able to understand the
other.