Acceptance of Others

Acceptance of others
“Why can’t we be friends?” This is a question high school students ask as they consider the acceptance
of others and themselves. Students feel a pressure to fit in and be accepted so they are not judged or
discriminated against. Discrimination is caused by many factors such as race, intelligence, interests,
gender, and sexual orientation. We should always see the good in others because we can learn
positively from them. We should always remember that everyone is created in God’s image.
Depression
Depression takes on many different forms. These may include the loss of interest in activities, self-harm,
suicidal thoughts, and mental disorders. Teens who are depressed may feel a loss of control in their
lives. However, depression affects more than just the person who is struggling with it. Others may not
recognize the personality of a depressed friend or know how to help. If suicidal thoughts are carried out,
the result affects the whole community negatively. Involvement in social activities, ministries, or therapy
can help a teen experiencing depression.
Faith/Spirituality
A problem facing teens today is the incorporation of Faith and Spirituality into their everyday lives. Teens
may think religion is “not cool” which can have a negative effect on their morals and values. Another
challenge that teens face and struggle with is maintaining their faith in the presence of those who do not
believe or are critical of their beliefs. Living in a society that lacks religion and moral authority leads teens
to engage in immoral behavior and become hypocritical. Teens should pray for the courage to express
their faith and should be willing to tell others how important it is to them.
Family
The biggest influence in a teen’s life is family. Some of the challenges teens face in their family life is the
death of loved ones, divorce, disagreements, abuse, parents’ involvement (or lack of), and family
pressures. Experiences at home can influence who a teen grows up to be. How parents solve conflict
reflects how a teen will learn to work out their problems. Teens may feel pressured to join certain
activities to please their families, but as a result, it can cause additional angst. Family needs to be the
core of faith and life development, and we should all look to the Holy Family for guidance.
The Future
Teens struggle with the idea of having to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives after
their graduation from high school. When facing decisions about their future, teens often question where
they should go to further their education and what they should do as a career. Teens struggle with
college and career decisions as well as their personal lives and relationships. The fear of not building a
family with someone that makes them happy is an issue that many teenagers face. Alongside this fear
comes the pressure from family, teachers, and oneself to fulfill certain expectations in life. Teenagers
question whether they will be successful, whether they will have to choose between what they love and
what their parents want, and whether they are prepared enough to live on their own. The biggest fear
most teenagers face is the realization that they will one day have to survive by themselves.
Media
Media is any form of communication of mass scale that disseminates information. Media consists of bad
influences and good influences. It can influence a person’s self-image because it often portrays the idea
of a so called “perfect person.” Negative media also spreads fast and can cause people to act out in
order to gain attention. While teens struggle to find the right way to use media in their lives, media isn’t all
bad. It can be used for good. For example, social media can help you stay in touch with family and
friends, spread positive messages, inspire others to do good deeds, and can be an effective tool in
promoting faith activities and spreading the Gospel of Jesus.
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is how one views themselves and treats themselves. It can make or break us physically,
mentally, and emotionally. God can influence how we look at ourselves. No one can force you to feel a
certain way about yourself. People can have positive self-esteem. Being confident can be healthy and
help one feel better about themselves. Positive self-esteem gives people the courage to deal with
negative comments. People can have negative self-esteem. If someone is overly-confident, they might
start to try to control others. There are not enough people who are self-confident. Learning to accept
yourself and how your self-esteem affects your life will have a positive influence.
Sex
Teens struggle with the pressures of pre-marital sex, even with knowing that the Church teaches that sex
should happen only in marriage. Sex is hard to avoid, because it’s so prevalent in our culture. It’s in the
media, it is constantly around us, and pornography is so readily-accessible. People- including our peers-
assume “all teenagers” are having sex, and teens feel pressure to fit into this culture. Teens do not
always acknowledge the consequences that come from having sex. The consequences are presented to
teens, but often ignored. Although pre-marital sex is viewed as a bad thing, sex itself, when married, is
viewed as a positive action because it creates life.
Stress
Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding
circumstances. In teens, stress is often caused by school, job, extra-curricular activities and
relationships. All of these activities can lead to struggles with time management, which can lead to even
more stress. Too much stress can lead to physical and/or mental health issues. It can also lead to poor
coping behaviors (i.e. drugs, self-harm). It’s important that teens are aware of positive coping behaviors
as well. Stress can often lead you away from God, so it’s important to maintain a relationship with God
throughout stressful times.

Substances
The term “Substances” is a generalization for drugs, both legal-such as prescription drugs – and illegal.
We find the problem is not simply the use of these substances, but also the readily available nature of
them in high schools today. As substance use becomes more accepted and available to the teen
population there is an increased pressure for teens to participate in risky behavior. The use of
substances directly affects the teens and also indirectly affects those around them and their environment.
The consequences of substance use are just as prevalent as the use itself. Consequences include:
physical, spiritual, and emotional harm to oneself, and a negative impact on your family, education, and
your future.

Acceptance of Others

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