Teenagers

Teenagers are normal human beings.  They are young and unformed, but not so different from adults.  They want to fit into their society.  They want to be taught how to fit in, how to advance within that society.  If we do not accept them, if we do not guide them into our society, if we do not trust them to make intelligent decisions, they will create a society for themselves within which they can belong.  This society will be, or already is, the anti-society, as opposite to the one from which they were excluded as they can make it.  Enter unsafe sex, illicit drugs, negative rock ‘n’ roll, tattoos, piercings.

If we simply accept these kids as who they are, give them the sense of belonging that we all need, direct them towards success, they will work hard to live up to the trust we offer them.