It’s time for teens to take responsibility (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

It’s time for teens to take responsibility

8:26am Wednesday 16th September 2009 in Columnists By Sheree Bedford

I write in response to Carole Crossley’s recent My View column.

I understand that she is only 15. I myself am still young at 22, however, I completely disagree with what Carole had to say.

Young people nowadays have never had it so good, and I believe it is this exact reason that young people are out drinking, smoking and creating anti-social behaviour. They have grown complacent.

Carole makes out that there are no activities for youngsters to do in the district, but does she realise that these opportunities do not simply land in a person’s lap? If Carole and other teenagers like her just took the time to pick up the Yellow Pages, or search the internet, they’d likely find hundreds of the drama classes, dancing studios, football clubs and girls’ rugby classes that she so craves.

Local gyms and leisure centres offer low-price swimming, badminton and even exciting and different ‘body attack’ or spinning classes, which can help keep youngsters fit at the same time.

When my father and his friends were youngsters 35 to 40 years ago, they’d go for long walks along the canal, adventures in the woods or even play with a whip and top to keep themselves amused. They did not have the personal laptops, Nintendo DS, iPhones, MSN, PlayStations or Wiis that children have now. Some of them didn’t even have a television!

But they certainly did not feel the need to go out smoking drugs and getting drunk in the name of fun. They made their own fun.

So where did it all go wrong? Because all this ‘nothing to do’ nonsense is getting old.

I live on an estate and all too often get abuse shouted at me by gangs hanging around outside local amenities, and frankly I pity them. If that’s what having fun is now, I’d rather stay indoors.

I know I risk sounding 20 years older than my age, but I do love nights out in town and drinking with friends as much as the next person. But I earn my own money, and if I am bored I blame nobody but myself.

When will our teenagers learn to take some responsibility for their own behaviour and stop blaming society?

I understand all about peer pressure, but nobody ‘forces’ anyone to take drugs or alcohol. After all, there is such a word as ‘No’. Use it!