It has come to my attention that crime committed by youth from the age 13 and over is rising.

This could be due to many factors but I think the main factor is that young people want money and they do not get enough opportunities to earn their own money before the age of 16 and sometimes after. Young people especially teenagers are influenced by the media I terms of what the latest gadgets are or what the latest clothing brand is and this can pressure youth from low income families to be desperate for money, especially that young people are very judgemental and are constantly trying to fit in. So certain youth can be a potential victim to being ridiculed by their peer’s ad that can then be turned into a form of bully meaning young people from financially unstable families could be targeted or afraid of being targeted so they develop a desperation for a source of income not only for themselves but maybe for their families.

From looking at statistics I have found online it is evident that in the last two years university fees have been raised from two thousand pounds to an astonishing nine thousand pound. These figures show how likely someone from a low income family would be able to make those payments. This can potentially lead to debt. So the desire for young people to earn money does not only come from wanting the latest clothes, gadgets or following the latest trends it come from wanting a good job and needing good qualifications and most young people want to achieve that by going to university. However with the extremely high tuition fees to get into university how can they achieve this goal? Young people could do this by having the opportunity to work form an earlier age so they can save up for their own tuition fees or to make it easier on their parent or carer by contributing towards your family living expenses.

Although, others argue that young people are immature, irresponsible and cause trouble but if so shouldn’t we as young people get the chance to change for the better, change people’s opinions and most of all prove that negative opinion wrong. Lowering the age to work could be that chance. Work doesn’t just bring the benefit or income but it helps build character, confidence, social skills and teamwork which are all key attributes needed in the future to prepare us youth for real life. After all at the age 14 we are in our third or fourth year of secondary school so 2 years from entering college or sixth form working from that age can make teenagers less dependent and more independent. This can make teens more self-reliant which is also a good trait to develop early in life.

Not only will this make teenagers more hard working it will give us a chance to stop negative views from adults and stereotyping teenagers, to prove those stereotypes wrong. Stereotypes such as all youths are violent, lazy and criminals which is completely untrue. Working from a young age can cause these opinions to change and maybe even strengthen relationships between adults and youth which doesn’t happen a lot in communities.

In conclusion, working at a younger age such as fourteen will not only help an individual from an low income family it could help the community come together not just teens or just adults but both youth and adults.

R