By Jocelyn Anderson
Most of the public’s view on teenagers is pretty negative. Teens are often viewed as obnoxious, lazy, rebellious, untrustworthy, or even dumb. Although people make all these assumptions, teenagers often do not fit these stereotypes. A lot of teenagers get thrown in with the ones who example the negative stereotypes. Teenagers are capable of more than a lot of people assume.
Although teenager’s brain’s are not fully developed, they are still capable of making big decisions for themselves, like balancing work and school. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The employment–population ratio of high school students was 22.5 percent in October 2023.” This is a big responsibility and really shows just how much teenagers can do.
Teenagers are soon to be adults who will be making big decisions for us as a society (like through voting), so we should raise them to learn how to be independent with guidance instead of bullying them with negative stereotypes. Their voices really matter because they are creating a world for their future selves. Teen’s voices should be heard in places like school, work, and in their community, but they are often ignored because of how young they are.
Overall, teenagers can do a lot more than people know, and they should be taken more seriously. This applies to their schooling and education, their workplace, and in their own communities. They are crafting a world for their futures and for them to live in, and they should have a say in it. Teenagers should also be seen as their own person instead of being stereotyped and roped in with their few bad peers.
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