Pubdate: Wed, 13 Aug 2014
Source: Hants Journal, The (CN NS)
Copyright: 2014 Transcontinental Nova Scotia Media Group inc.
Contact:  http://www.hantsjournal.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4549
Author: Chantel Goulart
Page: 7

THEN VERSUS NOW: REFLECTING ON TODAY'S TEEN ISSUES

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit in on an interview at the
Hants Journal that focused on the topic of underage drug and
prescription drug usage. This topic itself is rather interesting to me
because, being in high school, I am able to see what adults do not
even suspect of their children. It is interesting as it gives an
insight into my generation. After all, I am so used to what they do
but when I take a step back, as I am doing right now, I am a bit
stunned at what I find.

As I enter Grade 12 this coming fall, I have been exposed to underage
drinking, "hotboxing" of cars, the smoking of weed on school property,
and the normalcy of so many students smoking cigarettes.

Even in middle school, students are already getting into the same
things. By the time they enter Avon View these habits will be
commonplace.

The large shock to me is how normal it seems to my peers - that this
is what has become of our generation. It's like it is not a big deal
when in fact it is.

Why is it that teens have become so obsessed with trying everything? I
see them making resolutions for their year, planning to accomplish
getting high during the summer or making this the year they
participate in hotboxing a car. For those of you who may not be aware,
hotboxing is when a group of people smoke marijuana in an enclosed
space so that the smoke from the drug is left in the air, unable to
escape and thus is breathed in to allow a higher narcotic effect.

As close as I am alongside them, I still do not quite understand the
interest found in being a part of those moments. Is it the story you
can tell afterwards, or is it just to say you did it? Really, in all
honesty, I doubt they could give you an accurate answer. It seems to
be a bit more complicated than originally expected.

It seems to be truly remarkable how swift change can be. I am
surprised by how much middle school students are exposed to
considering I was in their shoes mere years ago.

I didn't have as much pressure as they are experiencing now because it
almost seemed as if it wasn't yet present. At that time, it was still
a bit of a shock to hear my fellow classmates swear, even as childish
as their choices of words had been. It simply baffles me that
nowadays, you can see little elementary school students swearing at
their parents or managing to diminish each sentence they say by
wedging in five curse words. There are many changes that have occurred
over the past few years that are beneficial, but this is definitely
not one of those changes.

I wouldn't even like to delve into what the future has in store for us
because, at this point, it seems that there is no quick and easy fix
to the large exposure happening to the future generations.

Accessibility to drugs, alcohol, and prescription drugs is at its most
convenient right now. Do adults even realize how simple it is for
these teens and their younger counterparts to get their hands on these
substances? Or what about the influence possible celebrity role models
have on them? Constantly having scandals plastered on the Internet and
television, and discussing just what went wrong with them, doesn't
help. That can negatively effect just what the youth can take away
from it all.

So many factors can play a role and all of them are significant in
their own way. From something as large as the broad reach of social
media to something as small as the use of obscene language at home or
the influence television has on its young viewers, they all have an
impact.

No problem can have one simple, quick fix when it took such complexity
for it to be designed. So, really, there aren't any certain actions
that one person can take to help prevent this downward spiral since it
is manipulated by so many factors. Also, it isn't only a local thing,
but it is worldwide. Could this course of change be avoided? Unlikely.

The small community of West Hants is being affected by a worldwide
issue that has fallen away from the media. How normal it seems to the
youth to be amidst all this, while it must leave half the adult
population in shock or at least left with concern. We are growing
comfortable with our roles and I see the distance set between the
youth and their surrounding adults lengthen so that, in the end, we
are all living separate lives; where we all go about our own business
and know that keeping to ourselves is the easiest route.

Why are we so set apart? I am not sure. But is it the wisest decision
made at this point? Can we afford to take the easiest route for much
longer?

* * *

Chantel Goulart is a 16-year-old Avon View student who, as part of the
co-op class, is job shadowing at the Hants Journal this summer. This
is her first column.
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MAP posted-by: Matt