We have questioned the use of the term "teenager" in the past. This is not because we have any negative thoughts toward your generation.
In fact, it is just the opposite. We are so impressed with your generation and with you as individuals that we get frustrated when some adults see your young age and don't expect much out of you.
So we've suggested on many occasions that parents avoid teaching their children to become "teenagers," which society sees as adolescents that behave like spoiled children.
We believe that parents should expect a higher standard of youth who are capable of maturity and want to behave like adults.
In this book we are going to use "youth" and "teen" inter-changeably.
We're doing this with the more mature definition of "young adult" in mind. We are convinced that this is more in keeping with the real, genuine you.
The world today needs what your generation has to share! It needs you to be your real, best self! Those of us in the older generations need your generation to lead out in changing the world!
~excerpt from
by Oliver DeMille & Shanon Brooks
