First Person Singular
Money matters: Working not necessary to teach the value of a dollar

SAGE PERROTT/University High School

By A.J. Wiseman
Sissonville High School

Parents often preach to us about the trials and tribulations of the “real world.” They continually remind us of these obstacles to encourage us to become more responsible or independent as adolescents. Yet, for the most part, we are still completely dependent on them.

I can’t help but wonder, has this constant dependency set us up for a reality smack in the face or has it indeed prepared us for the road ahead?

Many adults argue that because we depend on our parents for everything from a tank of gas to a night out with friends, our perception of the value of a dollar has been spoiled. And while it’s true that many teenagers, including myself, are not very frugal with their money, I believe that by catering to us, our parents have actually prepared us for the real world better than they might think.

This idea that having money handed to you on a regular basis can prepare you for living on your own will probably seem absurd to some. The common belief is that in order for someone to truly understand the value of money, he or she must earn it. But is this entirely true? Couldn’t seeing the apparent need for money be enough to teach us its value?

Though we may have money given to us by our parents, we as teenagers are, for the most part, very much aware of the hard work needed to attain it. Despite what our parents may think, we know that we will have to work for both the luxuries we want and the things we need.

I think that having our parents give us these luxuries without us always earning them has taught us that money is a necessity for survival. We see that having money will allow us to buy the nice car or rent the good apartment. And we know that in order to have this money, we will have to work hard to get it.

I think that when we are handed money without reserve as teenagers, this sparks within us a desire to be able to attain the same freedom of spending once we are living on our own. Perhaps this is why so many teens are going to college and pursuing prominent careers - so that upon graduation they can find prosperity in addition to security and happiness.

I am not saying that teenagers should never have to earn a dollar - I know that there are many who do. Instead, what I am saying is that just because we may not seem scared of the “real world” or concerned about having money for the future doesn’t mean that we aren’t.

More often than not, though, I think we are less than worried because we see that with hard work we can have what we need and want, and one day our children can, too.