Justin+R’s+Final+AmEx+2014+Speech

=Title of Speech :The Importance of Being a Kid=

=Text of Speech:=

When I was younger, there was one thing I wanted more than anything else. More than any toy, more than any amount of candy, more than any video game, more than a trampoline, more than a pool in my backyard. I wanted to be an adult. I wanted to make my own decisions, I wanted to stay up late on school nights, eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I wanted to drive a car, live on my own, have a decent job, and support a family. But as I physically become more and more of an adult, the less I want to be one. The things I once glorified and craved now give me anxiety and uneasiness. To be honest, I’m frightened. But I don’t think I’m alone. I’m constantly bombarded by the thoughts that keep me awake at night about my future. But I don’t think I’m alone. When I hear the words “apply to college’ my heart sinks into my stomach. But I doubt I’m the only one. It is not difficult to wear cloaks of confidence and masks of maturity. I believe that our society puts too much emphasis on becoming an adult at a much too early stage in life. Teenagers aren’t truly given an opportunity to be teenagers. I would say that our age group is best labeled “young adults”, but what I see is too many students attempting to strip the “young” from “young adults”. As I look around the room, I see future surgeons, politicians, engineers, and lawyers. And that’s what worries me most. I would rather see open minded students who strive to be moral examples now, kind and loving people now, or simply amiable citizens now. Too many of us are putting all our eggs into one basket, as if our career, our potential or our future successes are predetermined. There are more than 6 figures, 5 professions, 4 universities, 3 college degrees, 2 emotions, and one path to success. So don’t feel compelled to know exactly what you want to be when you grow up. Even if you believe you are one hundred percent certain, I highly encourage you to question your motives. Until you have actually worked a day as a surgeon, lawyer, politician, engineer, stock broker, or teacher; how can you be certain? Certainty can be a slippery slope. The average number of times that a UCLA student changes their major is 3.4, 3.4 times. I suggest that we stop acting like what we believe we want to be in the future and start acting like who we currently truly are. We are 16 and 17 year old teenagers, we cannot legally rent a hotel room, buy spray paint, purchase tobacco, leave the country on our own, vote in an election, get a tattoo, buy a lottery ticket, or go to a night club. We are not yet adults. We are still kids. Older kids, but still kids. I fully understand the importance of maturity at times, but we shouldn’t let it replace all forms of spontaneous silly fun. It would be asinine to suppress our feelings and personalities because we simply don’t want to seem juvenile in front of our peers. Its fun being silly, live your own truth. Have yourself a little dance every once in a while! Instead of studying on the weekends we should be out riding bikes, going on adventures, discovering friendships, building on friendships, nursing relationships, exploring new cities, being exposed to new cultures, eating ice cream for breakfast, climbing some damn trees, maybe even Two Trees. When someone asks “so what did you do this weekend”, the reply should never be “Oh, not much, I just studied”. On Mondays you should have a story to tell. In 50 years on a Monday you should be able to tell the same story. If you constantly study, you’ll most likely have shortcomings when it comes to social skills and interpersonal relationships. Stop living in the future and start living in the moment. For once, stop and smell the roses. The main goal of this speech is not to discourage students from doing something responsible, like studying often and preparing for the future. I wish my speech to be a wakeup call, to try something new while you’re still young. Remember, you only have one chance to be 17. Have a balance in your life that involves things other than school. Too much rigorous activity can surely lead to mental and emotional faults or instabilities. 9.2 million Americans have clinical depression. Depression shortens your life expectancy by 7-11 years. Next year is a great opportunity to try something new with the implementation of athletics at Foothill! Most of us have first-hand examples in our families that life isn’t forever, so we might as well make the best of it while we are still young. Would you rather look back on high school with discontent, or worse not even remember it? Or would you rather think back on fond moments and stories with friends that will live long in your memory? “It’s all about the experience”. You only get one chance to be a kid, so don’t mess it up by sitting at home cooped up in your room for countless hours. You’ll have plenty of time for that as an adult in your office. Don’t let time pass you by just because you need to pass the next test. In the future America that I would like to live in, I would like to see the importance of being a well-adjusted adolescent equal the importance of being a mature adult.

=Cite Your Sources=