Risk and the Life of the Modern Teenager
Each of us has to pick our poison. There's many bad choices for teens to choose from and now the dimensionality of the set has increased as we now have the option to take a solo boat ride around the world like this risk loving 16 year old from Sherman Oaks. Since that community is 6 miles north of UCLA, UCLA faculty have felt qualified to comment on this case study.
Since my UCLA colleagues have commented, I have the right to also comment. People are blaming her parents. I'm slightly sympathetic. Will they compensate the search and rescue squads who tracked her down near the Pacific Ocean? Will she now be famous for not succeeding? Was this her plan all along?
UPDATE: I was correct about the father's motive as he sought a "Disney Movie" about his daughter.
If we focus attention on daredevils, does this create bad incentives as more people will try to attend Presidential Dinners that they were not invited to or give birth to 93 children at once after visiting a Beverly Hills Fertility clinic?
More generally, do each of us really have the right to "pursue our dreams" even when our specific dream is risky and a pinch strange? Over the last 2 days, I have attended 2 UCLA graduations. Yesterday, I took party in the Economics graduation and today the Institute of the Environment held its graduation.
I smiled, shook graduates hands and posed for numerous photos with my students. I told parents how much I enjoyed teaching their children and I spoke earnestly about my job and the future for the new graduates. I even meant what I was saying (I think).
Our students are diverse and have diverse goals and concerns as they launch their careers. While they are optimistic, they know this recession is nasty and the competition to get into graduate school is fierce. This wouldn't be a bad time to sail around the world!
When I was 16, I was a fool. I went to my junior year High School classes and played basketball and hung out with my friends. I wasted a lot of time that I wish that I could have back. The young lady sailor must have engaged in a lot of planning, logistics and studying to prepare for her trip. When she is back on land, I would encourage her to talk about this --- the skills she developed to make her journey. In the long run, and putting aside the People Magazine aspect of this case study, this experience may actually be meaningful for her.
I have a 9 year old son. He will be 16 soon enough -- now I'm thinking about what risks I hope he will take when he is 16.
Since my UCLA colleagues have commented, I have the right to also comment. People are blaming her parents. I'm slightly sympathetic. Will they compensate the search and rescue squads who tracked her down near the Pacific Ocean? Will she now be famous for not succeeding? Was this her plan all along?
UPDATE: I was correct about the father's motive as he sought a "Disney Movie" about his daughter.
If we focus attention on daredevils, does this create bad incentives as more people will try to attend Presidential Dinners that they were not invited to or give birth to 93 children at once after visiting a Beverly Hills Fertility clinic?
More generally, do each of us really have the right to "pursue our dreams" even when our specific dream is risky and a pinch strange? Over the last 2 days, I have attended 2 UCLA graduations. Yesterday, I took party in the Economics graduation and today the Institute of the Environment held its graduation.
I smiled, shook graduates hands and posed for numerous photos with my students. I told parents how much I enjoyed teaching their children and I spoke earnestly about my job and the future for the new graduates. I even meant what I was saying (I think).
Our students are diverse and have diverse goals and concerns as they launch their careers. While they are optimistic, they know this recession is nasty and the competition to get into graduate school is fierce. This wouldn't be a bad time to sail around the world!
When I was 16, I was a fool. I went to my junior year High School classes and played basketball and hung out with my friends. I wasted a lot of time that I wish that I could have back. The young lady sailor must have engaged in a lot of planning, logistics and studying to prepare for her trip. When she is back on land, I would encourage her to talk about this --- the skills she developed to make her journey. In the long run, and putting aside the People Magazine aspect of this case study, this experience may actually be meaningful for her.
I have a 9 year old son. He will be 16 soon enough -- now I'm thinking about what risks I hope he will take when he is 16.
posted by Matthew Kahn at 7:55 PM
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