Introduction
The youth has always been one of the most paramount categories fundamental for the development of society and its gradual evolution. Being representatives of the class that reflects the current state of the world with all its innovations and tendencies, young people contribute to the emergence of fresh ideas and perspectives on how it should change. That is why they have always been given special attention; however, throughout history, a wide array of problems has been associated with the youth because of its fundamental importance for communities.
Today, the situation is also not perfect as some threatening tendencies can be observed in various groups. For instance, students and representatives of this age group demonstrate a gradually decreased interest in education, preferring to perform inappropriate actions or show undesired behaviors. The given situation can be caused by the lack of opportunities to engage in beneficial activities and wrong dominant ideas, which can be improved by offering new ways to express themselves, behaviors, and explanation of education’s importance.
Background
The relevance of the selected topic can be evidenced by the statistics showing the increased number of undesired behaviors among students and the youth in general. For instance, the majority of researchers agree in the opinion that today the drug and substance abuse is critical as around 45% of students drink alcohol, 16% use marihuana, and there is the threatening tendency towards the use of other drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine (White and Hingson 205).
Moreover, a significant part of students and their peers are engaged in inappropriate behaviors characterized by violent patterns, bad dietary habits, poor physical activity level (White and Hingson 208). There are many young people who prefer to spend time gathering in groups and sitting around smoking, eating fast food, and using substances. These patterns result in the drastic change in grades and academic performance in students, lack of interest in classes and extracurricular activities, and absence of motivation to get an education (White and Hingson 205). The given situation can be considered dangerous as it will undermine the existence of society and its ability to evolve.
Combined Approach
The demonstrated complexity of the issue means that there is no single approach that can help to solve the problem; instead, there is a need for a set of actions that will improve the situation. The researchers focused on the investigation of the question emphasize the fact that the deterioration of the atmosphere among students and their peers to greater degree results from the lack of options how to spend free time, understanding of the importance of education, and the negative impact of substances (Halpern 45).
From this regard, the suggested solution to enhance the situation should touch upon these major domains and provide young people with new opportunities to express themselves and engage in appropriate educational and leisure time activities. It will help to avoid the further deterioration of the situation and eliminate the most important issues associated with this category.
Beneficial Activities
Beneficial activities are one of the most potent methods to attract the youth and provide them with new ways to evolve. In accordance with the research, students engaged in the social life of the campus or educational establishment a less inclined to drug use or other undesired behaviors (Halpern 48). For this reason, one of the elements of the proposed solution is the creation of programs for both learners and their peers that will help them to spend free time for their benefit.
For instance, additional surveys to acquire data about various groups’ interests can be distributed with the main aim to organize courses that will provide an opportunity to get new information about these fields or master some skills. This method has a high potential to show good results as all young people are active and have the desire to engage in various activities, regardless of their social status and current position. It will also help to improve academic performance by providing additional knowledge and increasing motivation levels.
Sport
Sport is another element of the proposed solution as it helps to combine physical and mental exercises and spend free time inappropriate ways. There is credible evidence of the beneficial impact of all kinds of sport on students, their academic success, motivation levels, and ability to overcome challenges that emerge on their way (Halpern 99). Increased endurance and strength levels contribute to the improvement of the overall state of the health and body.
At the same time, it has a positive effect on academic successes and students’ readiness to keep learning (Ingholt et al. 502). Furthermore, sport can help to mitigate the negative impact of alcohol and drugs on the body and provide young people with additional motivation to learn. In such a way, it can be considered an appropriate option regarding the need to improve the functioning of the discussed group and attain a significant decrease in undesired behaviors among them.
Increased Awareness
The decreased motivation to learn and to avoid violent or abusive behaviors can be treated by effective work focused on awareness-building. The statistics, a high percentage of young people or students with poor academic successes have a vague understanding of their future and do not realize the benefits of education they can acquire (Halpern 65). It can be considered one of the major reasons for the emergence of all problems traditionally associated with this very group. The inability to see options for further development results in the use of substances, violent behaviors, and decreased motivation to learn. That is why social workers should devote more attention to the cultivation of awareness among this category of young people as they are fundamental for society and its rise.
Opposite Opinion
Despite the arguments provided above, there is a perspective stating that the current situation should not be considered a problem as the percentage of problematic individuals is not very high and can be taken as normal regarding the overall percentage of young students. In accordance with the given perspective, there has always been a particular number of individuals who disregard educational activities and prefer to engage in other behaviors. However, the existence of the given pattern emphasizes the importance of academic activities and ensures that the level of graduates will not be too high to meet the needed demand (Ingholt et al. 502).
The given idea also rests on the fact that, despite the comparatively high number of addicted or violent behaviors among the youth, the existing work is sufficient to solve the problem and ensure the further evolution of society.
Refutation
This approach can be refuted by the fact that education acquires the top priority in modern society, and the decreased interest in it among the young generation means their inability to succeed in their adulthood and the emergence of a class of people with the limited abilities to express themselves and inclined to violent or abusive behaviors which are dangerous for the society. Counter to the opinion presented above, it is fundamental to create conditions beneficial for the development of the youth and its engagement in educational activities.
Regarding the existing tendency towards the emergence of new technologies and increased sophistication of various processes, the knowledge base is one of the guarantees of future success. For this reason, a solution to the discussed problem acquires the top priority in contemporary society and should be given the increased attention.
Conclusion
Altogether, today the question of the decreased level of motivation to learn and engagement in undesired activities among the youth remains topical. The given group plays an important role in the development of communities and their further evolution. For this reason, there is a need for the creation of an appropriate solution to eliminate all barriers and ensure that all young people, both students, and their peers, will have an opportunity to acquire the needed knowledge and succeed in the future.
The suggested approach includes several elements to improve the situation, which are the focus on sport, additional activities and cultivation of awareness among all young people. These steps will help to enhance the state of this very group by increasing motivation to learn and suggesting options to spend free time not using substances or engaging in violent behaviors, which is one of the guarantees of the further rise of our society and its evolution.
Works Cited
Halpern, Robert. Youth, Education, and the Role of Society: Rethinking Learning in the High School Years. Harvard Education Press, 2013.
Ingholt, Liselotte et al. “How Can We Strengthen Students’ Social Relations in Order to Reduce School Dropout? An Intervention Development Study Within four Danish Vocational Schools.” BMC Public Health, vol. 15, 2015, p.502. Web.
White, Aaron, and Ralph Hingson. “The Burden of Alcohol Use: Excessive Alcohol Consumption and Related Consequences Among College Students.” Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, vol. 35, no. 2, 2014, pp. 201-218. Web.