|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
| Youth turn to many things to gain a sense of trust and belonging. This includes partying, experimenting with drugs, alcohol, sex—anything that they perceive will get them accepted. This is how clusters form. Youth form clusters—small, gender-based groups—because they find other people who have something in common with them and build it into their own culture. Clusters have rigid, unspoken rules; violators of the cluster’s rules can be severely punished. For example, something as simple as not eating lunch with the right group of people can be grounds for excommunication from the cluster. This is how youth can abandon each other. This often leads to further distrust of others. That is why some youth are so willing to try risky behaviors like drugs and drinking. If it is socially acceptable within their cluster, then that’s all that is important. Not all clusters are the same, and some clusters are hostile to each other. Another challenge that Clark addresses is the bipolar attitudes of youth toward adults in their lives. Adolescents feel the need to push people, particularly adults, away in order to protect themselves from being hurt and rejected. However, youth really do want adults in their lives. They need people on whom they can depend, but they also want and need their own space. Youth won’t fully develop if adults smother them, OR if they are given too much space. Relating to a teenager is a fine line—one demonstrated by the fact that youth will tell you to stay away while at the same time motioning you to come in. They want adults to be dependable, to be there whenever they need you. What this means in a practical sense for youth leaders is that when a young person calls and needs to talk, you need to be there for them. They need to be a priority. Youth remember, and if adults aren’t there for them when they need it, they will be hurt. Continued... |
|||||||||
| Back |
Page 2 of 3
|
||||||||
