What is happening to our youth?

What is really troubling our youth? Some say video games, some say music and movies, some say it is the way they were raised. I tend to think that everyone can blame what ever they would like to why we have the highest drug rate in years. I didn't have the best childhood but I think I came out ok. And I see the rich kids with the nice cars doing the most drugs. My brother played many violent video games and watched rated R movies before it was legal to and he is one of the best kids I know. So it is hard to "blame"anything on why kids are getting into trouble these days. Statistics say that my brother and I should be addicted to drugs, with children and not in school because of how we were raised, where we are from, and the people we have associated ourselves with. But Justin and I are not into fitting into anything sterotypical. I am so proud of the man that he has become and the woman I am trying to be everyday. So maybe the thing that we can blame is the education or lack of to why kids are getting involved in the wrong things. Exposure is another thing that I have personaly seen to why kids think drugs are "cool". Where I am from drugs are used so no chalanty that it isnt a big deal to be known doing drugs. I hope the statistics change for the better and our youth become known for other things other than death and viloence.

I just had a conversation with a friend and we were talking about some of the holidays that we celebrate and get out of school for. One of the more contriversial ones was Columbus day. Some may think that Columbus day is a celebration of Christopher Columbus coming to the new world and discovering a new territory. If you think of the history, Columbus came here and took many people away from everything they know. They killed and slaughterd hundreds of Native American, who for the most part wanted to be left alone. I think that is kind of offensive that we are celebrating the killing of a people. Another one that had us talking was Veterens and Presidents day. This vetereans day every school around us had the day off... except us! I was totally offended not only becasue I have family fighting for my freedom RIGHT NOW! But because we make a big deal about the presidents in our past who did there job and some of them not a good job at that! I felt so bad seeing my classmates in uniform having to take test on the day that they should be praised and recognized. Our veterens deserve to be celbrated every single day and the day that do get we put on the back burner. It makes me sick. I love the freedoms that I have as a American woman and I would hug every single veteren if I could. One day as I was coming off an airplane I noticed a bunch of men in there uniform and I was moved. I hugged every one that was willing to hug a giddy 17 year old. I was so proud!!

Inner city youth

I was looking into teaching for America or maybe working for the inner city and frankly I am not interested at all. I feel a little guilty saying that because I am from D.C. and I believe that I have what it takes to take on the youth of gang violence, teenage pregnancy, and much more that come with inner city schools. But frankly I am not sure if I want to take all of that on when I know that I have opportunity to work in the suburbs somewhere. I dont want to give on the inner city youth because I know that there are those few kids out there that want to go to Ivy League schools and happen to live in the "wrong" part of town. I want to be that teacher that helps them succeed and push them to know they can. I also want to be that teacher that shows that kid that thinks he or she isnt worth anything, that they are! I know from personal experience that kids these days are a little difficult to be patient with and I am just intimidated by them. I know I would have a hard time not being weak while trying to keep an authorative realtionship with all my students. I wish them all the luck and I hope the statistics start going the other directions in our future!