A Dangerous Thought

Here is my dangerous thought for the day: Teenagers are just as intelligent as adults and should be treated as such.

This thought has been on my mind for a while now especially after an experience I had a little while ago. In November I lost my license. I'm eighteen and I've been driving (legally) since I was sixteen. For my job I needed a license, so my father and I waltzed up to the DMV (i.e. Hell's reception area) to see if I could get a Virginia license. They were, of course, extremely busy (as hell probably is) and quickly told us that since I had done my driver's education in Utah, and since I was not nineteen, in order for me to get a license in Virginia I would need to go through drivers education AGAIN in Virginia because Utah's driver's education did not meet Virginia's standards (which makes no sense because both Utah and Virginia drivers are equally horrendous) Once again, I am eighteen and have been driving since I was sixteen. I've driven from Virginia to Utah and back. I've never been in a serious accident (one rear end that wasn't even reported because it didn't even leave a mark) and I'm a fairly responsible person. Legally, I am an adult, and yet I am still treated like a juvenile delinquent.

Recently I moved to Idaho and enrolled into Brigham Young University Idaho. I still did not have a license so I decided to try my luck with Idaho's DMV. Since I had the proof that I lived in my own apartment in Idaho and I was an enrolled college student, all I had to do was take a test (which I could've passed when I was thirteen) and I was officially a legal Idaho driver. Voila.

Besides the obvious difference in state's laws and all of that, I am still concerned with the fact that if I had waited until I was nineteen to get my Virginia license it would have been just as easy as getting my Idaho license was. What is the difference between one year? I am 100% sure I am going to be just as good (or bad) a driver when I'm nineteen, as I am now. The difference is, it's far easier for an institution to measure age, than maturity. Or Responsibility. Or even, (another dangerous thought) intelligence.

This entire post is just me procrastinating writing a research paper (just so you know, even though I'm eighteen and an "adult" I still procrastinate) on homeschooling. While looking for sources for my research paper, I came across a book. It's called "The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life Education " by Grace Llewellyn. I began reading it (I haven't finished yet) and practically jumped into the air and slammed my fist into the ceiling (I'm tall) with excitement. Finally, finally someone gets it! Not only does she get that teenagers are people too, but she denounces the people who put us down! Why, I ask myself, have I not read this book before?! Let me warn you. This book is incredibly dangerous. I mean wickedly dangerous. It puts into words what teenagers have been thinking forever, but were too scared, or unsure to do. It encourages teenagers to drop out of school. I'm not kidding. And I totally agree with it. Teenagers, read this book. Even if you have never read a book that wasn't required for school in your life, READ THIS BOOK! You may find that there is more to life than study hall, and homework, and teachers, and cafeteria food. There is something called Freedom and it's available to all.

Now, a confession. The reason I love this book so much is because I dropped out of school. I am a 5th grade drop out. There I said it, and I'm proud I did. Dropping out of school was probably the number one best decision I ever made in my life. No, I'm not flipping burgers, no I don't sell crack, and no I'm not a prostitute. But I dropped out of school. What's even more interesting is that I am in fact a college student, with currently all A's and one B in my classes. I payed for college all by myself. I got a 28 on my ACT. Most people would say I'm intelligent. And I dropped out of school. So, if this isn't proof enough that teenagers can make their own decisions and succeed, please read Grace Llewellyn's book. It might change your life

Here's the link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/28712926/The-Teenage-Liberation-Handbook-How-to-Quit-School-and-Get-a-Real-Life-and-Education