Chapter 5 (1).pptx

Chapter 5 The Challenges of Middle and Late Adolescence

Attitudes and behavior toward sexuality and sexual relationships Puberty drives the adolescent to experience surges of sexual desires, which often lead them to experimentation and exploration. While this is often healthy to engage in, there is the danger of losing control over one's sexual drives which inevitably end up in lifetime of regrets. Adolescents exploring their sexuality should be able to draw their limits in terms of sexual expressions, and should be responsible enough to see the future results or consequences of their behaviors. Sexual relationship is healthy when the adolescent sees this as part of a loving relationship and not as something that is just for exploration or pleasure. What is the proper and healthy attitude toward sexuality and sexual relationships? The attitude of being

responsible for one's actions is the guiding principle toward a healthy sexuality. Responsibility implies dealing with one's sexuality as part of establishing a healthy self-concept or self-identity. Being responsible also implies that entering into relationships is all about genuine loving and caring for the other person, and not just to satisfy one's urges and needs which can lead to transmitted diseases. Love is genuine when the intent is to help the other person develop his or her talents and potentials according to personal values, and to encourage them to become a better person. Love is also based on respect for the other person's uniqueness, which means accepting and respecting bigger problems like teenage pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases. Love is genuine when the intent is to help the other person develop his or her talents and potentials according to personal values, and to encourage them to become a better person.

Love is also based on respect for the other person's uniqueness, which means accepting and respecting that he or she is different from you; has a different set of priorities in life; different values that he or she gives more importance to; has a personal plan for the future; and has different emotions and feelings, attitudes, thoughts, and likes and dislikes. The adolescent is also prone to exploring pornography, which usually starts out of curiosity. A research in the USA shows that people who are heavily exposed to pornography tend to imitate what they watch and relive these in their lives. Other form unhealthy attitudes toward the opposite sex or toward the sexual partner, losing respect and love when performing sexual acts with them, thinking a feeling that the act is merely a mechanical behavior and devoid of intimacy and genuine affection in the same way that these are portrayed in pornography.

Academic Concerns The role of a student is the primary role of an adolescent who is still in school. Although there are other roles he or she may take, being a student takes primary importance. While many adolescents become problematic with their academic studies, what is most important is the attitude that they need to embrace when studying. What is the proper attitude a learner should have Being responsible is called for when dealing with academic challenges. Be aware that academic grades are not the only indicators of learning. Discipline, openness, perseverance, diligence, excellence, curiosity, analytical and critical thinking, memory, understanding, cooperation and team work, respecting other people's opinions and beliefs, social interactions, leadership, and followership are some of the more important skills and values that an adolescent student can also learn while in school. Aside from learning these skills, one also acquires the knowledge while studying Memorization and comprehension are necessary elements in obtaining knowledge. Oftentimes, what is being tested in schools is the body of knowledge one

acquires and absorbs, and grades usually reflect this. However, some schools are also aware that critical thinking and reasoning are equally important and these are also tested and graded. This is the reason why grades are important, in spite of some contrary belief that they do not accurately measure genuine learning. If one wishes to pursue academic excellence and further studies, then grades are critical in achieving these goals.

Group Belongingness An adolescent wants to belong. While there is an urge to be independent and autonomous from his family and parents, there is also an urge to seek are placement of this support system, this time in the form of social groupings such as school friends, memberships in organizations, and community. An adolescent with a low self-esteem might be drawn toward organizations that promise camaraderie in the form of "walang iwanan," "door die," or "one for all and all for one" kind of social support. However, there is a possibility that these types of organizations may be more destructive than constructive. Healthy and wholesome organizations whose objectives aim to help individuals develop themselves are better choices. An adolescent should not be lured by organizations that promise "exclusivity” or "superiority," often touting false courage through strength in their numbers. Avoiding organizations that adhere to violence and other anti-social behaviors is a responsibility of the adolescent because he is responsible for his own welfare, his family, his friends and his school.

Health and Nutrition • A healthy mind and body is what every adolescence (and everybody else) should strive for. However, adolescence, because of their growing bodies and brains, are gifted with so much energy that seems inexhaustible, resulting of abuse of one’s body and mind. Lack of sleep and poor eating habits often result in disaster. Learn to listen to your body.

Developing or Regaining SelfEsteem • Are you having difficulty acknowledging your strength and positive traits? Many experienced life coaches and facilitators for personal growth often observe how many adolescence, and even some adults, when asked the question about what their strengths are, would often get stumped by the question and will take a long time before they could create a list. It seem easier for them to list down their weaknesses and challenges, and the list for this is more often than not, longer than the list of their strength.

Roles • All human beings have roles to play in their lives. Roles are part of one’s identity, such as being a son or daughter to your parents, being a brother or sister to your siblings, being a student in your school, or a member of your organization. Although these roles seem separate and different from each other, adolescents must learn to integrate all these roles and it should be clear that these roles are related to the tasks expected of them by others.

Material Poverty • There are many stories about school children and adolescence students who live in far-flung areas where infrastructure is not available and of those who do not have much choice but to walk when going to school. Some walks for hours, some cross rivers and streams, and others go up the hills and mountains, before they will able to reach their school. Stories of students who could not go to school because they do not have money for food and transportation are usually exploited in movies and television.

Parents Working Abroad • Another social phenomenon experienced by many Filipino families today linked to poverty are parents who leave their families to work abroad to support the needs of their families. How many families are affected by this phenomenon? What is the impact of an absent parent on a child who is growing up with only one parent, or even no parent at home?

Career Choice • The adolescence who is creating identity for himself is faced with an urgent need to identify what course to take in college and establish a career path for the future. While many private school provide career counseling and guidance which involves testing and interviews. The adolescent can be more proactive by accessing many resource material found in the internet to help him identify his capabilities and skills and a wide choices of work that he can take.

Relationships • Maintaining healthy relationships require a certain level of maturity. An adolescent who is still in the process of acquiring maturity may often find maintaining relationships challenging.

Values and Beliefs • As a typical adolescent what he believes in or what values he upholds, and often you get a shrug of the shoulder as a reply. As discussed in the previous chapter, the adolescent is still developing his cognitive skill that he can se in thinking of abstract concepts and asking critical question.

Other challenges • There are many challenges facing adolescents, and some may not even be aware that they are experiencing them, like depression. There are telltale signs of depression an adolescent should be aware of. If you suspect that you are experiencing depression, talk to your parents, guardian, or school guidance counselor. Be open about it. Experiencing depression is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens even to the best of us

Three Filipino Adolescents • Gregorio Del Pilar • Edgar Jopson • Efren Peñaflorida

Gregorio Del Pilar (“Goyong,” “Boy General”) • Gregorio del pilar was fondly called his family as “goyong” and eventually referred to by his fellow revolutionaries as “Boy General” for being the youngest ever to be commissioned as such by the Filipino revolutionary forces that fought the Spaniards and the Americans. Goyong was born in bulacan on November 14, 1875. he graduated from the ateneo municipal de manila with a degree in Bachelor of arts.at the age of 20, he joined the revolutionary forces against the Spaniards headed by bonifacio. He was killed in the battle of tirad pass in ilocos sur fighting the American colonialist forces. He died on December 2, 1899 at the age of 24.

Edgar Jopson (“Edjop”) • Edgar jopson was born on September 1, 1948, of middle class parent who owned a small grocery store in Sampaloc, Manila. He graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class in ateneo. He was an active high school student, joining organizations such as Ateneo Chatechitical Instruction League, Soliditary of Mary and the Student Catholic Action.

Efren Peñaflorida (“Efren”) • Started an organization called Dynamic Teen Company comprised of his fellow students to keep adolescents like him way from trouble when he was 16 years old. The organization went into youth awareness projects, talent and self-development activities, and community services before it eventually discovered a way to help poor children who could not afford to go to school.

Defining Responsibilities and Expectations

• In defining your responsibilities, your self-identity should be made clear to you. By defining your responsibilities, your values should be clearly define too. Your role in society should also be defined in order for you to define your responsibilities.