Teenagers & Their Warped Sense of Pride & Accomplishment

It is no secret that American teenagers walk around with a false sense of entitlement. There is no more grotesque and appalling example of this than teenage mothers and the sense of pride and accomplishment that they feel by having a baby. I recognize that mistakes happen and there are exceptions, but the fact that teenage pregnancy is once again on the rise can not be chalked up to multiple mistakes. When you are sixteen and find yourself pregnant this is not an accomplishment, just because you are physically able to have a child doesn’t mean you should or that you can handle the responsibility.
As previously discussed social networking sites are extremely popular and have become a way for one to keep people informed and up-to-date with aspects of their life. The picture I chose is actually a MySpace graphic. I think it is a prime example of how teenage pregnancy has not only become widely viewed as socially acceptable, but that it is has now become glamorized and something to be proudly displayed. As a teenager you are not fully matured and grown yourself ; I believe that teenagers are not emotionally, financially, or mentally ready to take on all the responsibilities that accompanies a child. Although the child may be very loved and cared for, in actuality it places a huge burden on everyone around them. It becomes necessary for friends and family to step in and take on much of the responsibilities, which isn’t always fair to them.
Although I don’t agree, I do recognize how a young mother could argue that they are not glamorizing pregnancy but that this it is a part of them, that it isn’t going away and that they shouldn’t have to hide it. I don’t think that the image itself goes too far, however, I do think that that it is a prime example of some young mother’s mentality.

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook have become a significant part of today's society. Sites like these have become a primary source of communication for many people and a way to reconnect with old friends. Basically they are a great way to keep in touch with people who aren't important enough to warrant a phone call or face to face interaction.
Social networking sites are now the main source of communication for many people. These people feel the need to constantly update their 'status' with every detail of their life. People tend to feel to safe on the Internet and as a result share too much information. Sometimes forgetting that they have five hundred plus 'friends' of which they may only know seventy five or so. Once something is on the Internet it is there forever, people share information and pictures that they may not want to follow them around for the rest of their life.
Aside from the possibility of violent crimes, especially against children, there are other effects to using social networking sites. Potential employers and universities have started to look at peoples Facebook and MySpace profiles to weed out candidates. Social networking sites can also create an unsafe sense of familiarity. Just because you happen to be friends with someone on MySpace or Facebook doesn't mean you actually know that person, they could be anyone, including a convicted sexual offender.
The Internet and social networking sites can be very useful tools, when used correctly. Personally, I do not currently use networking sites. But, when I was deployed and didn't always have access to a telephone these sites were very a great way for keeping in touch with friends and family at home. I think the choice to use these sites is just that, a personal choice that comes along with risks. There is no way for these sites to regulate member usage and guarantee safety. It is up to the individual to be responsible for their own safety. Even if policies were reformed there would be no actual way to verify the information.

"Pain is temporary-Pride is forever"

If I had to create a bumper sticker that modeled my philosophy for life, it would be "Pain is temporary-Pride is forever". This was something that one of my drill Sergeant had told me during basic training. The more I think about the philosophy the more I realize that it applies to many aspects of my life. Almost a mind over matter. There was an instance when I was doing a ruck march and was able to work through the pain of a broken foot to complete the march because of this motto.
Pain is not always physical. This bumper sticker can apply to anyone doing something that may be difficult or make them uncomfortable. The difficulty is only temporary, however the sense of pride is well worth it and lasts much longer. This motto has gotten me through many difficult tasks and pushed me to do and complete things I may not have otherwise completed.