“I wanna be a billionaire so fricking bad,” these
are the lyrics to the popular song “Billionaire,” by Travie Mccoy, lead singer
of Gym Class Heroes. After listening to this song, I began to ponder about the
future aspirations of America’s youth. Statistically, the United States
has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized
world. I read an article a while ago which stated that minors have consumed 11%
of all alcohol in the United States. These statistics are not at all surprising, but
the fact that I’m starting to accept them as the norm is quite unsettling.
are the lyrics to the popular song “Billionaire,” by Travie Mccoy, lead singer
of Gym Class Heroes. After listening to this song, I began to ponder about the
future aspirations of America’s youth. Statistically, the United States
has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized
world. I read an article a while ago which stated that minors have consumed 11%
of all alcohol in the United States. These statistics are not at all surprising, but
the fact that I’m starting to accept them as the norm is quite unsettling.
From what I’ve seen around my neighborhood, our
youth view school as a mere afterthought, no longer an institution for self-betterment but a prison designed to keep them away from life’s pleasures. Of course,
I do not speak for every child. For as many children willing to skip school to indulge
in god knows what, there are also many others sitting in the classroom, waiting for their chance to seize the
opportunities of the future. Still, at twenty five years old, I’m already shocked
into abeyance over the lack of tenacity in today’s youth.
youth view school as a mere afterthought, no longer an institution for self-betterment but a prison designed to keep them away from life’s pleasures. Of course,
I do not speak for every child. For as many children willing to skip school to indulge
in god knows what, there are also many others sitting in the classroom, waiting for their chance to seize the
opportunities of the future. Still, at twenty five years old, I’m already shocked
into abeyance over the lack of tenacity in today’s youth.
With a
majority of adolescents heavily concerned with sex, drugs and quick money
making schemes, the future outlook for doctors, lawyers and politicians is uninspiring —
to say the least. All of these professions require enormous amounts of passion
and determination, all of which have taken a back seat to jail time, a stint in rehab
or an unexpected pregnancy.
majority of adolescents heavily concerned with sex, drugs and quick money
making schemes, the future outlook for doctors, lawyers and politicians is uninspiring —
to say the least. All of these professions require enormous amounts of passion
and determination, all of which have taken a back seat to jail time, a stint in rehab
or an unexpected pregnancy.
Over the years, I’ve seen many young boys and girls submerged in very adult affairs that
shouldn’t concern them. I’ve often tried to put myself in their situation but
could not fathom walking in their footies. It’s unfortunate that sex, partying and
drug experimentation has become an initiation rite for a majority of our youth. With these experimentations becoming reality, more and more promising children
seem to be evolving past any earnest desire to achieve something of a greater
scale. How sad is that?
shouldn’t concern them. I’ve often tried to put myself in their situation but
could not fathom walking in their footies. It’s unfortunate that sex, partying and
drug experimentation has become an initiation rite for a majority of our youth. With these experimentations becoming reality, more and more promising children
seem to be evolving past any earnest desire to achieve something of a greater
scale. How sad is that?
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