It's tough enough being a teenager in today's world without the temptations of drugs, sex, and violence, but in the year 2000 this is what the adolecent's face. We face more obstacles and trials and tribulations than teens faced twenty or thirty years ago. There is more sexual content on today's televisions, more violence in todays school, and more peer pressure to try all sortsof new drugs. Yet it seems the youth of today have acomplished more. We are chess champions, graduates of college, star athletes, crucial holders of our country's economic wealth, multi-millionaire entrepreneurs, and Grammy-award winning entertainers. Most of these had, at one time, a direct correlation with only adults. But our current society has taught us to be strong, independent, young go-getters, who fight for what we believe in.
             This independence and strong-will was started and nutured when we were children, probably by loved ones such as parents and grandparents, and ministers and teachers. They encouraged us to play educational games and read. By the time we got a little older we were inspired to compete or participate in activities to expand our minds (or maybe to keep us out of trouble), such as playing a musical instrament, or participating in a sport, or attending class in computers. I saw this poem on the internet and it reminded me of those special people that helped me through my childhood. I would like to read it to you,
             "Are the kids the only ones who see the knots that tie in the family tree. What is not, What could be, but not one person not just me. Kids may have little spines but they have full minds. Full of hope, Fame and Glory, Happiness and Joy, A sublime story. But in what day will you see? Kids make up you and me. How long will it be... Until you can make a fee? A fee for smiles and laughs, A fee for bliss, undetermined crafts. But
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