Youth Violence

YOUTH VIOLENCE

Violence is the act of intentionally hurting someone. It is a major issue facing today's young adults. There is no single explanation for the overall rise in youth violence. Many different factors cause violence behavior. The more these factors are present in your life, the more likely you are to commit an act of violence.

Have you ever thought about what causes someone to punch, kick, stab, or fire a gun at someone at himself or herself? It is a simple question but there is never a simple answer. One of the factors is the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and it is a serious public issue. Educators are very concerned about violence, even though violence is committed more often outside school campuses. Drugs can cause a person to judge others wrong. Faulty judgment can quickly lead to a conflict or outburst of violence. Some students in my school use drugs and smoke tobacco. In that situation, students who do not use drugs feel very unsafe. Teachers are concerned about the issue because they want the best for their students. Obviously, the issue of violence in schools is a difficult one. Drugs connect to gangs. Gangs' work is violence. If drug abuse can be decreased, violence can decrease as well.

People often commit violence to release their feelings of anger or frustration. They think that there is no solution for their problems. Some people use violence to get revenge against those who have hurt them or someone they care about. Some use violence to manipulate others to get something they want. When, for example, you are doing something important, you may get thirsty because of hard work. Instead of getting a glass of water yourself, you may order your little sibling to get it for you to save yourself some time. If he or she does not want to follow your order, you get angry. Anger, evidently, is a big factor that leads a person to commit violence.

Bullying is one form of violence. It can be defined as the use of one's strength or status to scare, injure, or humiliate someone of lesser strength. It is the most common act of violence in school campuses. Some students, of my age, bully to look "cool". Bullying can be physically hurting someone or a verbal attack intended to hurt a person's feelings. Most of the time, verbal actions are harsher than physical ones. Bruises heal but words haunt forever.

Other factors that contribute to violent behavior are: peer pressure, need for attention and respect, and feelings of low self-worth. Early childhood abuse or witnessing violent acts at home, the media, and easy access to weapons are also factors that apply, especially to teenagers.

Violence affects many lives. For instance, an acquaintance of mine is a new student, just like myself. She has been threatened by another student.