Teen Issues

Obviously, there are a variety of issues facing the teens of today - some good, and some bad. Unfortunately, some of the most influential of these are the ones that have a negative effect on the world's youths. In my opinion, the most dangerous of these issues is that of individuality. Though finding individuality is a great success for any person - especially someone struggling with the already-present pressures of adolescence - it can also be reversed into a destructive experience. As a young person struggles to create a significant and unique identity for themselves in society, they might settle into a lifestyle that is a dangerous way for them to express themselves. Contrastingly, they may be influenced to instead look towards conformity and "fitting in" as a way to please those around them, whether those people be parents, teachers, or peers. It is important for teens to maintain a strong sense of right and wrong, and to do what they can to stay true to themselves while also pursuing a way to stand out from the crowd. As can be seen, the struggle to find one's own place in the world can be a good experience, but it can also create bigger problems and produce dangerous results.

Be the Teacher

Teachers definitely hold a significant role in today's society. Unfortunately, they do not always receive the respect that they deserve. Granted, there are occasionally teachers who are rude to their students, but it is still necessary to give them the respect that comes along with their position.

In our school in particular, there are lots of good, kind teachers that don't always see their students acting politely and attentively. If I was the teacher of my class, I would probably find myself feeling quite discouraged by the way that students behaved around me. I would try to maintain a positive attitude, though, and enforce rules as much as possible, while still making things fun. I would also try to instill a good sense of the necessity of respect into my students. I know that this cannot always be possible, though, and when these things work out, it is only through lots of hard work and determination. I'm not sure that I would make a good teacher - I think that I would do well and make things fun at times, but the frustration of disrespectful students might be overwhelming.

Personally, I believe that I am a fairly good student. I try to do my best on my assignments, and to get them in on time, for the most part. I ask questions that I think will help me better understand the material, and I usually do as I'm told. I do enjoy working at my own pace, so sometimes it seems like I won't get things done in time (because I might spend a lot of time and effort on one thing), or like I'm not working on what I should be. If I were the teacher of someone like me, I would try to be patient because I know that a lot of questions can seem rather excessive and irritating at times. Also, I would try to keep that student focused because I know that it's nice to be able to work at your own speed, but sometimes that makes it easy to get distracted. Overall, I would just try to be understanding and supportive, while still encouraging that student to avoid procrastination and not get too caught up in one assignment.

Hero

Hero. It is a simple word, yet it has a very intricate meaning in the minds of many people. In my opinion, a hero - in this particular sense - is someone who goes out of their way to help others. This could be a small deed: stopping to help someone who has dropped their things; or extreme: sacrificing one's life in order to save someone else. Due to this great variation, there is often confusion in society as to the qualifications of a "hero". As far as I'm concerned however, the word "hero" is just one of those words that you can't put a particular definition on. People may choose their own heroes, mentors, and role-models based on certain characteristics that they deem as important, and thes may not exactly match their peers' opinions. However, this individuality is nothing to mock or laugh at. In fact, I think that it should be encouraged, since it not only shows a person's unique opinions, it can also be a mind-enriching influence on those around them.

Personally, I believe that a standard hero should be many things: dependable, respectful, and thoughtful, to name a few. Nevertheless, I do support the idea that there are always exceptions. Some of the most celebrated of heroes may have been neither dependable or respectful. They might not have been all that thoughtful, either, for that matter. The point is though, that in some way or another, they touched a life in a manner that positively influenced someone, and made that person appreciative of their presence. In that, they became heroes, and in that lies the proof that heroes come in many forms.