Grace+S’s+OpEd+Article

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 As human beings we search our entire life for our purpose. However, along life’s journey our true beliefs seem to get clouded with ideas from others about what they believe our life should look like. As teenagers I believe we are just becoming in tune with what our inner voice is saying to us. This is also the time when the voices from others are reaching a deafening pitch- parents, teachers, peers, the media all are weighing in heavily with their opinion of what we should think, feel, look and act like. This is the time when we are supposed to conform to societal norms. However, this is why I believe the average high school student is primed to rebel! It is our time to say No! No, we don’t care what you want us to do. We have our own ideas and they might just be better than yours! At this stage we are trying to decide so many different things that will have a lasting effect on our lives. Some may say that is exactly why we should listen to others to help us make our decisions. This is partly true but too often people ignore what their own voice is telling them, or worse allow others to be their voice and control them.

 School and teachers (in general) try to conform us by preaching that a 4 year college route is the only path to success. The “right” way of doing things is to aspire to be the valedictorian or salutatorian, we should be taking all AP classes and getting As. We should be scoring 4s and 5s on the AP tests and at least a 2200 or above on the SAT. We should be excelling at our extracurricular activities to make them “count” and our community service should be meaningful so that it will “look good”. But here’s the thing...some of us do not excel in high school; some of us do not fit the mold of the perfect student. Why can’t school and teachers celebrate each student’s differences; maybe encourage us instead of ranting to us. Stop trying to conform us! Are you trying to grow intelligent, curious and positive minds, or are you trying to grow ones that will produce 4s and 5s on the AP tests, or ones that will get that high SAT score, or ones that will be able to say “I’m going to Stanford” at the FTHS graduation. I am not saying that any of these things - good grades, college etc. are bad things. What I am saying is that it is important to ask yourself why you are doing this and who are you doing it for? my problem comes when someone’s voice is silenced because the noise of another is so great. Many times I see the voice being silenced from the very people that gave us our voice to begin with- our parents.

 Parents have helped us from the very beginning, nurturing us when we were sick or sad, being there for every event. However, some parents seem to stand too closely, so close that it seems impossible for the teenager to make their own decisions. Many parents seem to have adopted a “my way is the right way” approach to parenting. I have seen friends do everything their parents want them to do, never disobeying their parents’ wishes. Although in the moment parents and others might see this as being an obedient well behaved child I see it as a missed opportunity. When parents dictate to their child, and do not allow him or her express themselves how does the child ever learn to make their own decisions and trust their own voice? This is why I believe it is a mistake to dictate rather than discuss. High school is the perfect time for teenagers to try out their own voice, really question the authorities in their life and think for themselves! Why high school? Because the support system is still there. It may be difficult to explain to your parents your true feelings about different situations but the sooner you get to have an open relationship that includes mutual respect and honesty with your parents the sooner you get to truly start living your own life. Perfectly stated..."I rebel; therefore I exist"- Albert Camus.