Debate Friday

Is there too much Pressure on the Youth?

   Nowadays, the world has realized that young people are an extremely important resource. Due to our creativity and unorthodox methods of solving problems, businesses see potential profits in us, artists see raw talent and politicians see the future leaders of the world. However with such high expectations of the younger generation, is there too much pressure on the youth?

     I believe so, not all the time, but many times unnecessary pressure is put on the youth to succeed. We see this in schools, where many students are being forced to study subjects they aren't interested in by the parents as well as having to attend extra lessons afterwards. These parents tend to have a pre-determined route they want their child to take with no consideration on the child's opinion, because 'they know best'. Due to this never ending bombardment of "education" , many students take longer to realize their true selves (talents, weakness, etc.) which puts them at a disadvantage later in their lives. Many also tend to give up because of the stress and slowly fall through the cracks.

    It is also seemingly noticeably that adults tend to shove present day problems on the youth to solve. "This issue is for the youth to handle", "This is an opportunity for the youth to step up", and we hear similar comments made by adults. The youth have our own problems to deal with (finding out who we really are) and that can be challenging enough but coupled with cumbersome issues that adults failed to address themselves (ironically because of their own immature behaviour) can be overwhelming.

   Furthermore, many adults are hypocritical. They are quick to criticize and persecute the youth for their actions but they as well have been committing deeds just as bad. Youth learn from their elders, but if the elders are portraying negative traits, it unfair to point a finger at the youth for replicating what they see daily.

The point I am trying to bring across is that, it's okay to have expectations of the youth, but don't throw all the world's problems on us and leave us there to drown. We, young people, can only be productive when we find our passion and are supported in it. Although the youth are the future, there is still the present to deal with, so the adults of today need to step up, in order to be a leading example for the future which is young people.

Agree?