Arapahoe Herald
Be independent, teens can take responsibilityWednesday, October 27, 2010 By Sydney Streicher
Not every high school parent has yet to grasp the fact that their little boys and little girls are young adults. Parents are so massively involved in our school activities, it is almost questionable. They run booster clubs and PTA meetings and volunteer for classes and clubs. Parents are everywhere. Over my past couple of years at Arapahoe, I have always been shocked by the parent involvement. At my swim team registration when I requested I do my own volunteering hours, they seemed quite shocked. They interrogated me, “Doesn’t your mom want to make ribbons? Doesn’t she want to help with the team feeds?” My response was consistent: “This is my sport and my activity, so I can take responsibility in the extra duties. My parents aren’t the ones swimming.” It was so shocking to these parents who dedicate almost all of their free time to our swim team. How could an 18-year-old girl want to take responsibility for herself? How can she get by without her parents doing everything for her? The caring parents who love to “be there” for their children and help out in their lives are truly valuable, but are they really preparing their children for the real world? After 14 to 18 years of living, teens should be able to lead independent lives. We are all capable of feeding, clothing and caring for ourselves. It is good practice for teens to take responsibility for their actions now. Many of my peers still have their parents do their laundry. It shocks me that a huge necessity, like clean clothes, isn’t done by capable teens. I am truly glad that I have been doing my own laundry since the fourth grade. I never have to worry about waiting for my mom to finish cleaning my clothes. So why is it that our parents become overly involved in our sports and activities? Let’s be independent. It is our activity after all. We are the ones participating, practicing and competing. Take charge of your own life. We are a few years away from being on our own. |