There is Something More to Youth than Stuttering Lingo and Hip-hugger Jeans By Laureen Ricks Lake Weir High School I have been a long time fan of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules. At the same time, sadly, my faith in the youth of America (and England) has declined. While I doubt these two factors are related, I do feel these two shows do not

Not that drunkenness, carousing and hiding voodoo dolls in the bed to scare Veronica, your roommate, haven't always been a part of youth culture.

But I'd like to show another side of the coin. There is something more to youth than stuttering lingo and hip-hugger jeans. Youth has always been, in every era, a catalyst for change.

When you look into a young person's eyes, more often than into those of an adult, you see fire, your see hope, you see life. A love of life, a hunger, an ambition are evident.

And that's why whenever there is a revolution, young people are at the heart of it.

Youth is not only emobodied in young people, it is a characteristic. The word youth is synonymous with fresh, new, green. Older adults who can maintain youthful qualities are the most creative and also the happiest.

What happens to that youthful quality as people grow older?

Don't say wrinnkles. Youth is not an external feature, but one that is in the soul. When do we start becoming stale, perpetually tired, complacent and defeated? When we get our first bill, when we acquire a second mortgage (whatever that is), when we've eaten one too many bonbons and can't find our way back to eating healthy foods?

So how do we change the perception of today's young people? STOP WATCHING MTV'S SPRING BREAK. In fact, stop watching MTV altogether. Stop watching TV. Forget Woodstock 99 ever happened. It was just your imagination.

For a more promising look, check out the alternatives, such as Oprah.com. If you don't believe that today's youth are doing anything worthwhile and that we aren't a source of inspiration, take a look.

On January 13th, 2000, Oprah hosted a show on five very young, very gifted and taltned young people who plan to make a big impact on the world.

One was 13-year-old Charlotte Church, who is dubbed "school girl soprano". With big eyes and a voice that makes you want to melt, this British youngster is already a millionaire with a five album deal with Sony, a world record under her belt, and her own web site and fan club.

15 year old Amanda Dunbar has mastered French impressionism, American impressionism, and abstract art. Her paintings sell for over $15,000. "I paint because I have to. I go crazy if I can't do it," Dunbar said.

Cartier Anthony is a ten year old tap dancing fireball who plans to go to Broadway, and Marshall Ball is a small boy who, while he can't speak and is in a wheelchair, writes beautiful poetry. "Kiss of God - the wisdom of a silent child" is a collection of his poems that has been published.

These kids absolutely blew me away, but by far the one who left the biggest impression on me was Greg Smith. If I think about 'who in twenty years will be on the cover of Time magazine', my first thought is Smith.

I've been given a special gift from God. I don't know why or how, but I want to use this gift to the best of my abilities to help mankind," Smith said.

At ten years old, Smith is getting ready to start college. No, that isn't a misprint. Smith is a genius who could add and subtract at 18 months old. He hwas high ideals as well as a high IQ. A believer in non violence, Smith stated, "I believe you can make a big difference in the world... the first step to peace is education."

Smith wants to earn three doctorates: one in biomedical research (so he can find a cure for AIDS), one in aerospace engineering and one in political science (so he can become President of the United States).

I've been given a special gift from God. I don't know why or how, but I want to use this gift to the best of my abilities to help mankind," Smith said. At ten years old, Smith is getting ready to start college. No, that isn't a misprint. Smith is a genius who could add and subtract at 18 months old. He hwas high ideals as well as a high IQ. A believer in non violence, Smith stated, "I believe you can make a big difference in the world... the first step to peace is education."

These five kids represent the array of talent, optimism, and potential that today's youth have.

I feel very optimistic about tomorrow's world and Generation Xer's and their ability to handle it. This is a different feeling than the one I get after watching Real World, which is slightly confused and just a little scary.

Home | About Us| Students on the Issues | Teen Life | College Life| Creative Corner | Entertainment | Sports
Writer's Zone | From the Publisher/Founder | Role Models In Actions | Archive | Contact Us | Privacy