Planning and Decision Making – No. 32
Published in the February 18-March 3, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Hildelisa Murillo
Hildelisa Murillo
Thinking of the future and what it has in store for an individual can bring mixed feelings, especially for teenagers. Most teenagers do not have a clear idea of what life will bring or how to accomplish their dreams. In many instances, not every detail can be checked or planned out. As we grow up, our parents help guide us in a direction they see fit. But at the end of the day it is our life and future that is being paved.
For me, making decisions and planning ahead is hard to do, as I would imagine it is for many teenagers. We live in a time when education is key and it determines what kinds of jobs we get, where we live and our lifestyle. The level of education we decide to receive is also a decision we make and most likely planned ahead. My parents have always told me there is no such thing as failure, there is only a hard lesson learned that we are meant to learn. But if that same thing were to be repeated a second time, then that is a decision we had made knowingly.
Planning and decision making is something that affects our future. Planning ahead gives you a path to follow and an idea on how to do things. Planning ahead can make decision making a lot easier because by then you will have an idea what it is you want to do with your life and what path you wish to lead. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “A man is the sum of all his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do, nothing else.”
This means what you do in and with your life, the decisions you make and what you decide to do with your capabilities is what defines you. In other words, the decisions you make will not only affect your future but also how you are perceived by others. Life is all about making decisions and planning ahead of time. As a teenager the decisions I make, such as what classes I take and how seriously I take my studies, will affect my future, just like it would for any other teenager.
Hildelisa Murillo is a 15-year-old sophomore who attends Gilroy Early College Academy and her ambition is to become an orthodontist.
Spending time at home – No. 20
By Anna Giubileo
Anna Giubileo
Being on the Youth Action Council and in several clubs, including class council at school, it seems as though I am always out with friends at meetings and events until late at night many days of the week. Also, I’ll try to meet up with my friends who don’t go to my high school, Notre Dame in San Jose.
However, almost every weekend, my family and I drive up to our beach house in Capitola, and spend a lot of time there just us; no friends. Developmental Asset #20 states “Time at Home — Young Person Is Out with Friends with Nothing Special to Do Two or Fewer Nights a Week.” Extracurriculars and time spent hanging out with friends is very important to a teen’s growth and development; however, spending time at home with family is equally as important. This not only goes for teens, but youth and adults as well.
When it comes to socializing with your friends, you not only would be missing important times to strengthen your connections with your family, you might altogether be missing connections with your mom/dad/brother/sister. When you are constantly away from home and with your friends you would have great friendships with them, but you would be severely lacking relationships with your family, something that can really hurt you later.
Time at home is also very important. Many teens say that they do spend a lot of time at home, which is both true and false at the same time. Often times, when teens and youth do spend time at home, they are up in their room, with the door shut and locked. Although that does count as time “at home,” home is considered to be more than the physical structure. Home is where family members are, and when you spend time at home you should be spending time with the ones whom you love and whom love you.
By spending time with your family, you build a love connection between you and your mother/father/aunt/uncle/grandparent/and or sibling. That connection will help with all aspects of your family life, such as communication between the family members. If you don’t spend any time at home, you can’t improve or even practice the communication between your relatives.
As mentioned above, both socializing with friends and spending time at home is important to teen’s development and growth as a person. In order to have balance, you need to be doing both. By spending time with your friends, you experience things that you can’t with your family. On the other hand, when you spend time with your family, you build a greater connection with them, a connection that can only be experienced by family members. So next time, instead of balking at your child’s request to go somewhere with a friend, or at a family member’s request to spend time together, say yes. Chances are, you’ll be happy you did so.
Anna Giubileo is a 15-year-old freshman at Notre Dame High School. She enjoys photography and likes to read, write and draw.
