Part One Individual Presentation (1-2 minutes each; total time: 8 minutes)

Growing up

In today’s society, young people are generally allowed much more freedom than their parents had when they were young. Modem teenagers have more freedom to make their own decisions than was permitted in the past; for example they can wear what they like and go out with anyone they want. However, together with greater freedom comes greater responsibility. Young people have to be more aware of how their behaviour affects their own and other people’s lives, particularly in the area of personal relationships.

Some people are worried that not enough attention is given to the development of this awareness. Stevie Shum, a school social worker, complains that parents and teachers are not helping young people to talk about their feelings until it is too late. He insists that young people need to be able to talk about growing up and relationships without feeling embarrassed. They need to find Out about their own feelings so that they can understand the feelings of others. ‘They don’t have any real freedom if they don’t properly understand why they are experiencing so many different emotions,’ he said. ‘Growing up can be a very confusing tune of life without some kind of understanding of it.’

Stevie has first-hand experience of the problems young people have in relationships. ‘When I was a teenager, I went out with someone who was deeply in love with me. After we broke up, I felt guilty because I hadn’t really returned that love. If I’d been more in touch with my emotions, I would have treated that person with more respect.

Young people today gain independence and have the chance to start relationships earlier than in the past. However, in order to become young adults rather than grown-up children, they also need to understand themselves, the choices they have, and their responsibilities.