Many factors have led us, Team A.I.T., to make a change in the lives of young adults by assisting them with the necessary preparation for adulthood.
According to Dr. Epstein, author of The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen, adolescence is "an artificial extension of childhood" meaning that teenagers spend too much of their free time on unimportant things that will not benefit them once they reach adulthood (HuffPost). Adolescents spend 70% of their time with peers or on social media rather than spending time with their parents or mentors, who have more experience --and will be able to offer more advice-- with adult life. By giving adolescents an easily accessible way to get this information on multiple media platforms they regularly use, team A.I.T. hopes to prepare young adults for the future ahead of them.
A recent study based on 40 years of survey data found that the current youth is engaging in far less risky behaviors such as drinking, sexual relations, driving and other paths toward independence in comparison to previous generations (USA Today). While some might see this as a benefit, the lack of these kinds of experiences, like driving and developing stronger relationships with peers, impede an adolescent’s development of independence. Seven nationally reported surveys taken by 8 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 have proved that, "The whole developmental pathway has slowed down, with today's 18-year-olds living more like 15-year-olds once did," says Jean Twenge, professor at San Diego State University and author of Child Development.
High school seniors between 2010-2016 compared to those as early as 1976 reported:
The internet’s impact, "[keeping] kids glued to screens instead of out driving and dating," is preventing them from experiences that they would have eventually learned from, says Twenge. The underlying message is not to present that drinking, participating in sexual relations and overall risky behavior is a 'good' thing', but rather shapes adolescents to become responsible and independent adults. By preventing these experiences for several years, young adults now have to learn what teenagers learned in the 1970s, delaying their overall maturity and development.
Our team came to a consensus that teenagers are not fully prepared for adulthood based on the results of the mentioned studies, and our conducted survey. Teenagers most likely did not need as much assistance transitioning to adult life due to their previous experiences of “risky behavior,” but many teenagers today, lacking the necessary experience, need more guidance. Based on the data of team A.I.T.’s survey, there is a common ground of not knowing how to pay taxes, change a tire, or properly construct a resume amongst the students at Culver City High School. Where there is a lack of knowledge in the basics of adulthood in smaller population, such as a high school, we can assume that there is a large percentage who also need assistance. It is vital that we make an effort to adopt life skills. Too many adolescents are dependent on their parents and are often blindsided when entering adulthood.
Teenagers as well as young adults can refer to our website, YouTube, or Instagram for short 'how-to' videos and links to our blog posts. We are currently proposing a Life Skills class for Culver City High School to go into more detail about financial literacy, nutrition, and entering the working world. Through our campaign, teenagers will develop their knowledge on life skills in preparation for adulthood.
According to Dr. Epstein, author of The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen, adolescence is "an artificial extension of childhood" meaning that teenagers spend too much of their free time on unimportant things that will not benefit them once they reach adulthood (HuffPost). Adolescents spend 70% of their time with peers or on social media rather than spending time with their parents or mentors, who have more experience --and will be able to offer more advice-- with adult life. By giving adolescents an easily accessible way to get this information on multiple media platforms they regularly use, team A.I.T. hopes to prepare young adults for the future ahead of them.
A recent study based on 40 years of survey data found that the current youth is engaging in far less risky behaviors such as drinking, sexual relations, driving and other paths toward independence in comparison to previous generations (USA Today). While some might see this as a benefit, the lack of these kinds of experiences, like driving and developing stronger relationships with peers, impede an adolescent’s development of independence. Seven nationally reported surveys taken by 8 million teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 have proved that, "The whole developmental pathway has slowed down, with today's 18-year-olds living more like 15-year-olds once did," says Jean Twenge, professor at San Diego State University and author of Child Development.
High school seniors between 2010-2016 compared to those as early as 1976 reported:
- 67% drank, down from 93%
- 55% worked for pay, down from 76%
- 73% had drivers licenses, down from 88%
- 63% dated, down from 86%
The internet’s impact, "[keeping] kids glued to screens instead of out driving and dating," is preventing them from experiences that they would have eventually learned from, says Twenge. The underlying message is not to present that drinking, participating in sexual relations and overall risky behavior is a 'good' thing', but rather shapes adolescents to become responsible and independent adults. By preventing these experiences for several years, young adults now have to learn what teenagers learned in the 1970s, delaying their overall maturity and development.
Our team came to a consensus that teenagers are not fully prepared for adulthood based on the results of the mentioned studies, and our conducted survey. Teenagers most likely did not need as much assistance transitioning to adult life due to their previous experiences of “risky behavior,” but many teenagers today, lacking the necessary experience, need more guidance. Based on the data of team A.I.T.’s survey, there is a common ground of not knowing how to pay taxes, change a tire, or properly construct a resume amongst the students at Culver City High School. Where there is a lack of knowledge in the basics of adulthood in smaller population, such as a high school, we can assume that there is a large percentage who also need assistance. It is vital that we make an effort to adopt life skills. Too many adolescents are dependent on their parents and are often blindsided when entering adulthood.
Teenagers as well as young adults can refer to our website, YouTube, or Instagram for short 'how-to' videos and links to our blog posts. We are currently proposing a Life Skills class for Culver City High School to go into more detail about financial literacy, nutrition, and entering the working world. Through our campaign, teenagers will develop their knowledge on life skills in preparation for adulthood.