Saratoga News Youth Talk Alex Scordelis Busy teens find the time to be responsible citizens As an 18-year-old high school senior, I have made the following observation: If you want to survive as a teenager today, you'd better be driving in the fast lane and in high gear (metaphorically speaking, of course). The modern teen is constantly on the move. Whether you're at football practice, play rehearsal, editing the school newspaper, preparing for a debate tournament, practicing with the cheerleader squad or any other number of activities, there is always something happening. In addition to extracurriculars, teens also have to prepare for and take the PSAT, ACT, SAT 1 and SAT11 and work on their college applications. The majority of high school students also hold down some kind of part-time job and try to juggle a social life as well. Throw all of this together and you have got quite a hectic schedule. To top it off, we go to school five days a week and try our hardest to get good grades. It's no wonder that, "Kids these days," grumbled with an exasperated sigh, is an expression commonly used by adults. Am I saying that my generation has a different situation than generations past? Of course not! The chaotic lifestyle that comes with being a teenager is just one of those parts of life that can't be avoided. However, I have noticed that my peers break a stereotype that is frequently attributed to youth. Between the midterm exams, Friday night football games and weekend dances, older generations often find it hard to believe that teens would have time to, or even be interested in fulfilling their public responsibility. But it has become apparent that teens today are not only interested in voting and serving in government, they are enthusiastic about it. I can say this from experience, since I voted for the first time, along with legions of other 18-year-olds, earlier this month. There was a sense of patriotic duty among my classmates at school, that by voting we could truly achieve "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Our lunch periods were filled with heated debates; whether it was over who was the best senatorial candidate or illegalizing consumption of horse meat, stances on propositions and candidates were constantly argued. One student at my school made the tragic mistake of expressing his apathy toward voting. "How on earth can one person make any difference?" he inquired cynically. We now affectionately refer to this classmate as "Fidel." By the time election day rolled around on Nov. 3, I was prepared to participate in the democratic process. I had scrawled notes all over the inside of my sample ballot, circling some names and propositions and crossing out others. I walked into Grace Methodist Church on Prospect Road (my polling place) and notified the volunteers there that this was my first time voting. They congratulated me and told me that if I needed any assistance they could help at the drop of a hat. I made my way over to the booth and fumbled around with the ballot, trying to figure out which end was up. It felt like everyone in the place was staring at me, wondering if I could make it through the ordeal by myself. To ease everyone's worries I turned around, smiled and nodded my head just to let them know I had the situation under control. After five minutes of punching holes, I had finished voting. I dropped my ballot in the box, and the volunteers thanked and congratulated me once more. It was as if I had completed a rite of passage. I proudly displayed my "I Voted" sticker on my shirt and was quick to show it off to any 17-year-old I encountered that day. Just how influential was the youth voter turnout this year? In some elections, the younger voters were the deciding factor. In the state of Minnesota, neither the Republican nor Democratic candidates for governor made much of an effort to appeal to younger voters. However, Reform Party candidate, former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura directed his campaign at reaching the members of "Generation X." The result: over 50 percent of voters under the age of 30 voted for Jesse "The Body," who is now governor-elect of Minnesota. This enthusiasm among youth to fulfill public responsibility is not foreign to Saratoga, either. Although most people don't know it. Saratoga youth play an active role in our city's government. The Saratoga Youth Commission, a group of teens appointed by the City Council, serves as a liaison between the youth community and the city government. The Youth Commission has 13 members, six more than the average city commission. Every year, more teens apply to be members than can be accepted. This outpouring of enthusiasm over public service is not only evidence that Saratoga teens are eager to serve, but it also shows that the Youth Commission can easily be considered the most popular branch of our local government. Contrary to popular belief, young people today do care about relevant issues facing the nation and their own communities. Unfortunately, there is a pervading sense of mistrust and cynicism toward the government already present in our society. While the status quo is plagued by scandals and broken promises, there is a younger generation waiting in the wings, willing to serve and able to take on the challenges of the 21st century. Alex Scordelis is a senior at Bellarmine College Preparatory. He is a member of the Saratoga Youth Commission. YouthTalk invites all Saratoga youth, 18 and under, to express their views in YouthTalk. Topics are as limitless as your imagination. For deadlines and word count, contact Saratoga News editor Dale Bryant, 354-3110, ext. 31, or on email, dbryant@sjmetro.com. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, November 25, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.