From Necessity to Addiction: The Dangers of Teens’ Drive for Prestige and Early Maturity - Varada Lanke

Long gone are the days, when driving a vehicle was a necessity. Now it has become more of an addiction than it’s actual need. Being able to drive a vehicle is definitely a must skill but, there are limits set for everything. Driving has now become a thing of prestige, but amongst the teens. Earlier, teens were engaged into sports, or friends to play with or were sent by parents into some hobby classes. But the teens in the new era, are keen upon growing up soon, just to enjoy the amenities and the exposure the young adults get, for actually being matured enough. Instead of living the life they are leading now, they are leaned towards the fun of growing into adults. Leading to decline in the mental growth of the youth as a whole.

They are fantasized by their friend circle, into wrong doings like drugs, alcohol and rash driving. The peer pressure makes their self-growth to descend and as a result, descending into their physical as well as mental health.

We see several incidents of under-age driving accidents. Just a few months ago, a boy who was barely 17, was found drunk driving his father’s Porsche car at midnight. Neither just he drive, but it also lead to an accident which ended up killing two innocent engineers, aspiring to earn loyal money and lead a happy and sound life. But this guy’s young blood resulted in the death of two beautiful futures along with his own.

The incident was over, but what about the consequences? Past cannot be altered and future cannot be rewritten. All because of the negligence of his parents and their urge to always give extra to the kids, so that he doesn’t lag behind in this world, led to 2 precious lives gone forever.

Not every disease has cure, but definitely has a prevention. This can be prevented by, parents not encouraging the useless demands by their kids and the young hearts, realizing their worth in the near future by being matured and getting the rights only at the right time. The teens should be taught to do gain more with fewer the supplies. This will lead to them having importance of whatever they have and whatever they earn. Utilizing their “wants” to be fulfilled as their “needs” is not the right way to grow. Being stubborn is good, but only for the right demands. Growing early is not commendable, but growing wisely is definitely appreciable.

• Varada Lanke