MY YOUTH, MY YOUTH IS OURS

An Argumentative Essay

Submitted by:

AGAS, Eliz Marie L.

DIZON, Kiara Breanne S.

HONTIVEROS, Jerome Andrei O.

JASTILLANA, Andrea G.

LEDESMA, Juan Pablo J.

10 - St. Thomas

Submitted to:

Mrs. Iluminada C. Ocampo

Araling Panlipunan - 10

Mrs. Gloria E. Raquel

English – 10

Date Submitted:

August _, 2019
 MY YOUTH, MY YOUTH IS OURS

I.Introduction (c/of Andrea) - checked by pabs

You can say that everything gets better with time, and among those things
we can count are the youth, but who are they? The collective we are referring to
known as the youth are those who are between the ages of 12 and 18 years.
Meaning that the youth is an interchanging group that uses their time between
adolescence and adulthood to develop or change.
Every generation of youth is remarkably better than the one who came
before them, because each batch of these young adults use what their predecessors
have left as a basis or foundation in creating their own change. Time and time
again, this is proven through history. From the young saints who stood for what
they believed in to the plenty of teens who are speaking up about the planet and
its well-being.
With today’s youth, the changes they create are next level compared to
before, tackling even mature topics that are beyond their years. Opinions from an
article in the Philippine Star says, “today’s youth are way different from those in
the previous generations in so many respects . . .”, this rapid growth and
development they showcase is overwhelming and a crucial part of this growth is
thanks to the presence of technology, but this is where it goes downhill.
Even before, teens who are up for change face challenges that hinder
them, but because of how well-developed society has evolved, we receive the
drawback as fast as the benefits. With the youth becoming more involved with
society and voicing out their thoughts, backlash and discrimination is never that
far behind.
Adults look down upon the younger ones because of a mindset thinking
they are clueless and inferior, which on the contrary, they are not, but still they
continue to discriminate and judge them not knowing that behind these
movements are different rationales, among them are the youth striving for
themselves and the future. They must also become aware that this discrimination
can cause harm to these still developing adults and for those reasons, we won’t
just stand idly by, we will voice out our opposition to today’s youth being
discriminated.

II. Body

A. First Argument (c/of Pabs) - checked by em

One of the accomplishments a young person aims to achieve that would
propel him or her to the chapter of his or her life is to get a job. Every person,
regardless of age, has set this as a personal goal, a marker for growth. Job
opportunities however; seem to dodge the youth as reported by Forbes. A survey
conducted by Scott Wooldridge in 2015 explains that most companies prefer
people with experience and with higher age. Their reasoning: the older, the wiser,
the more trustworthy. This may only seem as a common prerequisite for a
position or a job, but this actually insinuates discrimination against the youth. The
young people and new graduates are denied of numerous job openings and
 opportunities due to their age and lack of experience. This prohibits them from
achieving financial stability and career growth. Without giving them opportunities
to hone their skills, how will the youth gain experience?

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, before reaching the top need of

the pyramid, one must first gain or satisfy the monetary support and financial
stability in which the youth is unable to move forward thus, more personal goals
are unable to be attained which causes frustration and stress. The mentioned two,
as supported by multiple studies, are the main instigators of mental health illness.
The severity of discriminating against the youth due to their age may only extend
to loss of job opportunities for some. However, this oppressive action creates a
rippling effect for many.

B. Second Argument: (c/of Em) - checked by kiara

We stand against the discrimination of the youth as they strive for what Dr.
Jose Rizal said, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” (The youth is the hope of
our future) They fulfill this heavy label of responsibility by first, using their own
potentials and capabilities as an effective contributions to the development and
advancement of the society. As stated by Monitoring the Future surveys last 2000,
about 75% engage in community affairs, doing volunteerism and service and 39%
values leadership in the community, thus, cultivating a much determined, high-
spirited and an empowered youth for others. Second, by fostering and partaking in
digital citizenship. According to PEW Research Center last 2018, 95% of
youngsters have smartphones wherein 31% of them obtain positive impacts from
social media than the 24% negative impacts and the rest is neither. In these data, it
shows that they can use the power of digital platforms to be aware and educated
about the issues and problems in the world. As this happens, they can cause
escalation of public awareness by expressing their perspectives and ideas out
there in social media platforms about matters concerning us all. Lastly, their
continuous duty does not limit to the digital world; the youth are also found in the
streets, making their voice be heard and fighting for what is just. From The
Guardian news article, “'It's our time to rise up': Youth Climate Strikes Held in
100 countries” manifest that they are involving themselves to issues in their
surroundings for the betterment of the community. When this happens, the youth
can hugely influence each and everyone especially the ill-educated and unaware
people to strengthen their movement once more people join in their advocate that
tackles and aims for the good of all. From all this information, imagine what a
drastic tomorrow it might be without the young ones with the brightest minds that
serves as the path for us to live in the future with lesser worries and a progressive
life.

C. Third Argument (c/of Kiara) - checked by jerome

A poisoned chalice is something that seems harmless when it is given, but
it does great harm to the person who receives it, which in this case, the youth. The
seemingly harmless discrimination can cause negative effects towards our youth
and their environment. As a result of discrimination, they are severely impacted
physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Moreover, these results can lead
 to stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, poor educational performance, and
distant social relations.

Based from the department of health (DOH), 3.3 million Filipinos suffer
from depressive disorders, with suicide rates in 2.5 males and 1.7 males per
100,000. We need to start talking about depression to end the stigma surrounding
mental health because, when left unattended, it can lead to suicide, it also said. tas
ano Filipinos makes depresssion as fodder for jokes and insults. Foder -- not
serious news, kaya di nagagawan ng solution. Meron naman kaso hindi sya
consistent? gaya nung sa 24/7 suicide hotlines?? Like pag depressed ka tatawag
ka sa number na yun then icoconsole ka ata? pero there are complaints na di
available yung no, may sasagot pero ibababa ule kase break time daw nila ganon
hahsjkahsa

D. Counter-Argument (c/of Jerome) - checked by Andrea

Certainly, there are justifiable reasons why adults discriminate the said
youth. If adults treat them as equals, they would not know the term “discipline.” If
adults treat the youth lightly and not be strict to them, the youth may inherit the
following negative traits: lack self-control, be irresponsible, not know proper
behavior, not respect their parents or other authority figures, and will have poor
social skills as they lack respect. If the youth are not monitored properly, they
would surely be rebellious and bossy. However, if they are given proper
discipline, they will have: respect, self-control and self-sufficiency. They will also
be more open as they know their parents would listen to them and increase their
sense of responsibility as they like being complimented, and will just be overall
better persons. Still though, we still disagree to some extent in regards to
discriminating the youth. If ever, it should not include physical abuse when it
comes to “disciplining” them, as this would just give an opposite result as when
you disregard teaching them proper etiquette.

III. Conclusion (c/of Andrea) - checked by em

The youth of today have developed and are still developing themselves to
become good persons, both for the community and for personal gains. As
adolescents who are still on the verge of change, they are excelling in aspects that
the previous youths haven’t ventured or attempted to tackle in their time.
These fresh minds and new discoveries have forged the path on how
today’s youth become a stronger force with an impact on society and
discrimination against them will affect not only them but to everything that
surrounds them, but surely, discrimination will create a harmful or negative effect
within them first before their surroundings get affected. This is why we shouldn’t
discriminate these teens because they are on the journey of change with goals
such as striving for themselves and their personal visions and striving for others
and the community.
 Although they do need a leading figure in their life to teach them
discipline and respect, these figures must limit their methods to advising and
supervising them to create positive effects instead of the negative effects
discrimination brings.
If society can break down their stereotypes and see that majority of these
young adults have pure intentions that can bring good, we can finally see the
youth, and hopefully the future youth, flourish.
The youth of today can become so many things, and discrimination will
only drag them back to who they were when all they wish to do is become
someone new for the good of themselves and the community.
References

Introduction:
 https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2019/04/24/1912092/challenge-
todays-youth#470D480xrwMgDYv8.99
 https://freechild.org/who-are-youth/

Body:
ARGUMENT 1
 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/carolinebeaton/2016/11/11/
too-young-to-lead-when-youth-works-against-you/amp/
 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2003.tb00085.x
 https://www.benefitspro.com/2015/09/30/millennials-the-new-victims-of-age-
discrimination/

ARGUMENT 2
 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/
 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/15/its-our-time-to-rise-up-
youth-climate-strikes-held-in-100-countries
 https://futureteam.world/en/we-are-the-future-and-the-future-are-the-youth/
 https://www.nap.edu/read/10478/chapter/8#157

ARGUMENT 3
 https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/discrimination-harmful-psychological-effects-
0208121/
 https://eschooltoday.com/discrimination-and-prejudice/effects-of-
discrimination.html
 https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/risks-and-protective-
factors/vulnerable-children/discrimination/
 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/17/1885890/doh-its-time-talk-about-
address-depression

COUNTER-ARGUMENT
 https://www.verywellfamily.com/surprising-reasons-why-we-need-to-discipline-
children-620115