Our Society: Shoot Low So You Don't Get Disappointed
It is very unfortunate that so many young individuals, particularly in urban communities, have such low expectations of their future. Finishing high school seems like life's highest achievement, and there is nothing more after that, provided that goal is even reached. Some resort to drugs and violence, but that is another day and another article. I am talking about the ones who fall through the cracks because of their neighborhood, or perhaps their upbringing. Many times intelligence goes unrecognized and hopes and dreams are stomped upon. There are many reasons why this happens.
Why do these teenagers aim so low?
Environment. At home, many young people in urban communities come from broken homes where the parents have more than one low paying job, and are always under stress and pressure to make ends meet. Some of these adults are on drugs, are alcoholics, or are on welfare continuously. While not every family has these particular extreme issues, it is easy for teenagers not to expect much out of life when they see their parents struggle just to make the rent for a tiny place and to bring food home.
At school, these teenagers are surrounded with peers who have similar or worse issues. The lack of discipline for many of them at home leads to a lack of discipline on school grounds. Students sense the low expectations of the administration and many of their teachers, and it hurts them, makes them angry, or just depresses them. Often they are not challenged as much as their peers in "nicer neighborhoods" are, and they are denied the level of education others receive because of the false belief that they "wouldn't understand it."
On the streets there is a gang presence that sets the rules of conduct, and reroutes many walks home for these teenagers. Peers sometimes ridicule, beat up, or threaten anyone who would try to challenge their authority, raise the precedent in class, or present themselves in a more mature way. It is automatically assumed that "smart kids" think that they are better than the others, and any such thinking is a personal threat to the "not so smart kids." It can literally be a matter of life or death to make a certain facial expression, ignore a greeting, walk down the wrong street at the wrong time.
Media. So many young urban-Americans buy into the culture that is glorified and created in music videos and movies. It is the in thing to rob, kill, get involved in drug trafficking, and disrespect law enforcement. Positive, successful images in the media that reflect their cultures are almost rejected for the status quo "ghetto life" that they see around them with crime and hopeless, apathetic attitudes that are "real." News broadcasts confirm negative beliefs about the system and remind them of the struggles they face day after day. There are only a handful of programs that offer hope and a positive outlook.
Sex is a frequent habit and media glorifies that as well. Ridiculous numbers of teenage pregnancies take away from the lives of many young female teens. Confused, damaged, and overwhelming emotions distract them from reaching toward any type of career goal, and early on the expenses of raising a child create incredible debts for them at an early age.
It is ultimately a poor environment and the lack of discipline, challenge, education and support that creates these low expectations. As a way to cope, many young people decide not to set high goals like college or a solid career for fear of failure. To avoid being disappointed, they "shoot low."
I appreciate programs that exist for the purpose of assisting these minority teens and pre-teens. I commend teachers who work in these areas and actually care about the students that they teach and challenge them to want more out of life. I applaud parents who take the time to discipline and encourage their children so that they can be successful, strong contributors to society.
It would take the efforts of everyone who cares to really make an even greater difference in this area of society. I want to encourage you to get involved in any way that you can. If you reach at least one person during your lifetime, you have helped a great deal. Find out ways that you can help our urban-American youth.
Feel free to post any programs you know of or ideas that you have in the comment section below. I would love to read it.
