Maybe I'll Just Stop Trying

     Age discrimination affects every aspect of my life. Every time I walk into a store, I imagine getting kicked out by some brilliant employee who thinks I'm shoplifting. When I eat a restaurant, I make sure it's me who tells the waiter what I want, not my mom. Today, when my family went out to lunch, I kept my elbows off the table and even put my napkin on my lap.
     Today, I went to my cousins wedding reception at a giant greenhouse sort of place with all sorts of exotic flowers. I went out on the large balcony with two of my cousins. They're in seventh and second grade, but since their family isn't exactly known for their height, they look a lot younger than that. A lady who worked there came out and said, "You kids need to get back inside with your parents.*" We weren't doing anything wrong. We weren't even touching the precious plants.
     I did what she asked, even saying "sorry" for whatever horrible wrongdoings we had commited. But I was angry and frusturated. No matter how how hard I try, the adults won't see me any differently. So why bother?
     Maybe the best way to present yourself as an equal is to not backdown (but not rudely). The next time something like this happens, I'll ask why. If they give me a straight, reasonable answer, I'll obey.
But not before then.

*Not exact quote

Prejudice

     "Stupid teenagers!"
     Who hasn't heard this before? It's an ever-present phrase in a society with growing prejudice against youth. Retail workers will glare suspiciously at large groups of teens roaming the aisles. At the first thought, these glares seem to be justified. After all, 25% of shoplifters are below  the age of eighteen. But stop and do the math and you will discover that 75% are adults. That means that there are three times as many adults pocketing merchandise as youth. Now stop to think about what they're stealing. Teenagers mostly steal for the thrill. They take small things, like Skittles and lip gloss. It would be very hard for them to getaway with a stolen iPod. After all, they have parents to explain to. "IPod? What iPod? Oh, that one? It was, uh, lying on the side of the road?"
     Adults aren't so easily excited about the novelties of candy and cosmetics. But DVD's? Fashion accessories? Sure, why not? Nobody's going to notice. At least, not that employee keeping an eye on the highly suspicious twelve-year-old girls.
     Many teenagers find it difficult to even get admitted into a place of business. A classmate of mine went to a restaurant called Red Robin with his friends. The staff didn't take them seriously and kicked them out. Um, hello, you just lost several paying customers.
     Really, teenagers are just as human as adults or children, and just as deserving of human rights. Age isn't some grand accomplishment and youth is not a sin. Let's try to be more tolerant.