`` Teenage Wasteland `` By Anne Tyler

In “The C Word in the Hallway”, author, Anna Quindlen expresses her pleas to reach out and end the neglect of teen struggles. Bullying, break-ups, isolation, family issues, academics, and more could result as contributing factors to the hardships of teenagers. Unfortunately, “role models” setting the examples, overlook the fatal outcomes of these hardships. The poor example taught is to mask our struggles and toughen through them. This masking method can only be effective for so long before one cracks. In her article regarding the uprising of mental health issues found in teenagers, Anna Quindlen calls to action on parents, educators, and politicians to emphasize the importance of recognizing teenage hardships, so the teenagers can too recognize

It is Daisy's view on parenting that causes her to turn to Cal as a tutor for Donny in the hopes that he has all the answers. At Cal's house, Donny and the other teenagers are drawn to the the basketball court. Basketballs are a reoccurring symbol throughout the story. The narrator states, “Spring came, and the students who hung around at Cal's drifted out to the basketball net above the garage” (Tyler 192). Spring often represents new life and youth. The narrator continues, “They'd find him there with the othersspiky and excited, jittering on his toes beneath the backboard” (Tyler 192). Donny is “jittering” and “excited” while playing basketball during the spring. Hence, the basketball symbolizes happiness during Donny's youth. A basketball is mentioned again at the end of the story: “It's something fleet and round, a balla basketball. It flies up, it sinks through the hoop, descends, lands in a yard

Overall, Cal is responsible for Donny’s failure because he imprints bad habits on him, acts as a friend instead of a parent, and disconnects him from his parents. Cal instills Donny with a tendency to blame authority and a bad work ethic. Cal behaves as if Donny is not able to make any mistakes and that studying is a waste of time. All of Cal’s teachings lead Donny to fail. Next, Donny’s failure is a result of Cal acting as a friend towards Donny, not as an authoritative figure. Cal does not care about Donny’s academics or reprimand his bad behaviors. He does not encourage Donny to do well in school, making his grades decline and causes Donny to believe that his actions are acceptable. In addition, Cal is at fault for Donny’s failure because

“Teenage Wasteland" is told from Daisy's perspective. By doing this, Anne Taylor only gives us Daisy’s point of view of Donny. This may paint a completely different picture of what others think of him. From the very beginning of the story you get a sense of how Donny’s character will continue to change. “He used to have very blonde hair, almost white, cut shorter than other children so that on his crown a little cowlick always stood up to catch the light.” Donny was depicted to be innocent. Tyler uses the words “light”and “white” and this makes me think of only pure and good things. Soon after we see how Tyler changes her tone with Donny. “As he grew older, his hair grew darker, and he wore it longer-past his collar even.” To me this changes our view on Donny without even

In order to illustrate a key stage in the life course, I will be looking at the area of adolescence because I believe that this is one of the most critical life stages, with so many immense transitions young people go through. I have chosen to focus on adolescence because of a commitment to working with these vulnerable individuals aged from 14 to 19. We can no doubt all reflect on wrong choices we felt we made in our adolescence, and how our education and employment prospects may have benefited from good advice at this crucial juncture in life. I want to be able to guide vulnerable adolescents in the right direction and help them make the right choices, by understanding their needs, and supporting them in practical ways to live fulfilling and independent lives. From personal experience, I sincerely believe that with the right kind of guidance and attention, troubled teenagers can get back on track.

Teen ager would argue that to be independant is to be free. Although parents would say their child’s desire for independence is strenuous like an uphill climb. This is confirmed in W.D. Valgardson’s short story “Saturday Climbing” where Barry struggles to climb a deceiving rock face which is analogous to his relationship with his daughter. Not only if Moira will go to college in the upcoming year but also which campus she will attend.Through this narrative, Valgardson suggests that when parents provide copious amounts of security, conflict will arise and children will rebel; only when a balance is found between security and allowing independence will the relationship be harmonious.

Although Donny academic tutor has tried to help his troubling problem, he never succeeds. “He admitted he’d made no headway with Donny and said it was because Donny was emotionally disturbed.”(Tyler 266) Donny has fixed his bad deeds at school, but he turned into a despondent teenager. “He did his assignments, and he earned average grades, but he gathered no friends, joined no clubs. there was something exhausted and defeated about him.”(Tyler 266) Donny has been fighting through his depression, but he eventually escapes it

Clark frequently uses his position as school principal to convince the students and teachers to work hard. In his first speech, he starts it by telling the students to behave and put down their cigarettes. This would establish his authority as the principal. His audience would then listen to him more because he has established his authority as the head of the school, which is someone that everyone would respect and obey. Clark also uses ethos when he instructs the teachers to set up extra reading courses on Saturday. When a teacher asks how that will be done, Clark instructs them to come in to the student’s homes and get their parents to let their children come, or even come with them. By solving the problem and giving a clear plan of what to do, Clark would show he is someone who knows what he is doing. People usually follow the instructions of qualified people, and the Eastside High teachers and students are no different. They would listen to Clark’s calls on what to do and to work harder because they know he sees the big picture and knows what everyone should do. Finally, Clark throughout all his speeches frequently brings up the fact that the students will end up failing and locked out of the American dream if they do not put in effort to succeed. In those moments, Clark shows that he is someone who knows a lot about life. A person who has experience about life choices would be a person that people would listen to for advice on decisions and

When you picture a teenager you picture fighting, drinking, or answering back, am I right? However, this is simply not the case. Sure there is the minority of trouble makers. However this minority is exaggerated due to the news showing only this behaviour. This stereotyping has found its audience and crept into television shows and series. This has led to the creation of a mockumentary called “Summer Heights High” which has unfairly represented teen

As we age, our lives are divided into stages with inescapable hardships. The most difficult of these stages has proven to be adolescence and young adulthood, the years in which our personalities are defined. This juncture is the pinnacle of maturation, however, it is gradually becoming a plateau wherein inactivity is most prevalent. It is indisputable that American children and young adults alike are lingering in their youth for far too long. Many in their teens and twenties are holding tight to the freedom of childhood by depending on their parents, refusing to settle down, and avoiding responsibility. Through their lack of independence, inability to commit and their indolence, certain action must be taken against adolescents

Today’s youth feel the need to be perfect. Having any flaws has been beaten into kids as an awful quality. Scared of ridicule from their peers and parents, today’s youth work hard to maintain an impossible image. Students lose sleep, a basic human need, to complete their ever-growing amount of homework. They miss out on social interaction, a key component to any healthy human’s life, just to complete homework, work a part-time job, play sports, commit to after-school activities, and household responsibilities. Young people tend to feel overwhelmed and are unable to properly control and release their emotions. Older generations think these outbursts are because today’s youth are entitled. On the contrary, today’s youth are competing on a personal, physical and even emotional level with every other person their age and older to be the best to have the best opportunity to live a good life.

“The psychologist said Donny has no serious emotional problems. He was merely going through a difficult period in his life. He required some academic help and a a better sense of self-worth.” (Anne Tyler. “Teenage Wasteland”) When children become teenagers, they begin the confusing yet enlightening journey into adulthood. At this point, they make important decisions which may change the course their lives. Teenagers are still influenced by others, but they are now responsible for their own choices and actions. Entering into young adulthood can be very confusing. At this stage, young people are deciding who they are and who they want to be. They also feel as if they should take responsibility for themselves but do not feel like a complete adult. Donny was basically deciding that school was not for him. He was cutting class and getting in trouble. Daisy took it upon herself to make the decision for him to go see a psychologist.

Did you know that elephant owners in Asia can keep their elephants in their yard with a simple piece of twine and a post in the ground? I’m sure you’re probably thinking, “How is that possible? Elephants are strong, smart, and have potential to do huge things.” The answer has nothing to do with the twine and the post; but it has everything to do with the twine around the elephant’s mind. The thing is, teenagers are a lot like elephants. We are strong, smart, and have incredible potential, but somehow we are held back by a tiny piece of string, held back by a lie; the lie that teenagers are rebellious, good for nothing, lazy bums. Today I am going to be talking about how this lie affects the relationship between adults and

Traumatic experiences, difficult home lives, and the effect of drugs can leave a significant imprint on the rest of an individual’s life. The context which individuals are surrounded by during their developmental years has a significant impact on their mental health and development. In the documentary, The Bad Kids this idea is depicted through the portrayal of adolescence and early adulthood periods of the individuals at Black Rock Continuation High School. The film portrays the lives of at risk teens, who are given a second chance to get their life on track and earn a high school diploma. However, there are complications and set-backs that are holding them back from accomplishing their goals.

The sociological imagination, a concept used by C. Wright Mills, is essentially the ability to perceive a situation or act in a much larger social context as well as examining the situation or act from many perspectives. In particular, it plays a paramount role in Donna Gaines ' Teenage Wasteland. It is a tragic story of 4 teens who together, committed suicide. The teens were deemed as “dropouts, druggies” [Teenage Wasteland 8.2] by newspapers and were still treated with disdain even after their deaths. However, using the sociological imagination, Gaines argues that this is not simply a suicide committed by “troubled teens” but other underlying themes are present.