Are Adults Pressuring Teens to Become Adults Too Early?

Teenagers are growing up faster and faster nowadays and are being faced with life-altering decisions at a young age. The brain fully develops at around the age of 25, so teenagers need help with making these decisions from adults. A big decision that teenagers have to make is what career path they want to choose for their lives. Some teenagers have this figured out as early as middle school, but others might be halfway through high school and still have no idea what they want to do with their lives. This leads to parents putting loads of pressure on their children to decide what they want to do for a career.
“A study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that teens who feel forced to make long-term decisions too soon are more likely to experience anxiety and burnout.” (phvstiburon.com) Anxiety itself is a big deal that lots of people struggle with in their daily lives. Teenagers with burnout are less likely to want to participate in school, sports, or time with friends, and other extracurricular activities. However, some people think that it is a smarter decision if teenagers pick their career path earlier in their lives. This can be true for some people who prefer to be cautious and overly prepared in every situation. Although this may be true, students and teens still feel pressured to decide. According to khstreaty.com, “I feel stressed about choosing a career all the time. Even though I’m just a sophomore, it’s something that I worry about a lot.” Parents and teens should be aware of this because it is a big deal. It is affecting many people. Parents and teens should work together to use communication to help identify things they enjoy doing and possible career paths, without creating an overwhelming sense of stress. Parents should understand that children determine their paths at different ages and should support and help them on their journey to choosing a career.