This year, it will be thirteen years already since the catastrophe of the ninth September 2001. Sometimes, it is difficult to realize that modern teenagers did not see the crash of the Twin towers. However, those, who are in a college or at a university, have experienced the feeling of horror. Some say that it is good that modern teenagers have seen the catastrophe in so young age. This helped them strengthen their character. Others argue that the event left a sore in their mind; it made it difficult to live and look at the world optimistically. I do agree with both minds. “Quod me non destruit, me nutrit” (What does not kill me, makes me stronger). I suggest that teenagers of the 9/11 generation are stronger, than their relatives are.
Teens of the generation 9/11 are more communicable than their parents are. The point is that they were born in the times when Internet was widely used all over the world. They know more not only about other countries and about nations. They have friends from all over the world. This helps be more tolerant. On the other hand, after the events of the ninth September, 2001, many of modern teenagers became intolerant to the representatives of the Arabic world. Several days after the catastrophe, some of the Arabic students were ignored by their co students in universtities and colleges. (Kantrowitz, 5) Obviously, nowadays students realize that there is the difference between terrorists and those who came to the United States of America to study. However, it took years to realize that. Hence, thanks to the events of the ninth September, 2001, students and children learned how it is to be tolerant, and respect other nations. Besides, they learned that the world is not divided between good and bad nations; every nation has good and bad people.
Tolerance has become rather sharp issue after the fall of the Twin Towers. Some researchers state that the tolerance has gone downside after the events. I have already mentioned that some students preferred to ignore their Arabic co students several days after the events. However, the researches show that some teenagers cannot “forgive” the Muslims what they have done.
The second lesson that is taught by the generation 9/11 is how to strive for their future. Joel Kotkin in his article states:
“One key reason: their indebted parents are not leaving their jobs, forcing younger people to put careers on hold. Since 2008 the percentage of the workforce under 25 has dropped 13.2 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while that of people over 55 has risen by 7.6 percent.” (Kotkin, 2)
The point is that teens from the generation 9/11 know how to strive for job. Hence, they should choose the future occupation wisely. The point is that their parents did not have such a problem because all the professions required new people. However, nowadays employees prefer to hire skilled older people and to leave the student to gain at least some experience. The problem is that if every employee thinks like that, a student (or a graduate) will never find a job. This makes some of the students start their own business. The previous generation have less problems with getting a job. Nowadays, it becomes harder to get a job and save it for a long time. Hence, most of the representatives of the generation 9/11 learn how to fight for their future. Studying has become one of the highest priority of every representative of the generation 9/11. If a person does not get a job, he or she will want to start one’s own business. To achieve this aim, a person should be well educated. The previous generation did not have this problem. If one does not enters a college, he or she may obtain a profession and work in a plant or a factory.
On the contrary, some researchers state that career means nothing for modern youth. The catastrophe of the ninth September showed that everything can be lost in a moment. Hence, teenagers prefer not to have a stable job. They fear to lose everything they have. (Kantrowitz, 2) Besides, some scientists, who have studied this issue, suggested that teenagers did not even strive to get a job. The point is that nowadays every person knows the situation on the labor market. Hence, most of the students do not want even to try. Besides, the world economic crisis played its role.
Asking questions. The generation 9/11 does not believe everything they see, read or hear. They doubt everything. Who we are? What are we to do in the world? What is the aim of life? What to strive for in the unstable world? Obviously, every person has one’s own answers for the question. However, I should admit that there is a slight difference between the two generations. The previous generation did not face any catastrophe that can be compared to the ninth September, 2001.The events that happened almost thirteen years ago, strengthened the modern youth, the generation 9/11. Nowadays, they realize that whatever happens, life should go on. (Quindlen, 1) They become stronger even when watching the breaking news.
Support is the main lesson learned from the bombing of the Twin Towers. The point is that people realized how easy it was to lose each other. Several days after the catastrophe, students from almost all the universities in the country tried to get to know each other and stay in touch. The realization of the importance of being together and supporting each other make the generation 9/11 friendlier than the previous generation is. Modern teenagers strive to know each other and become friends. Whereas the previous generation is focused on making a career and going up the career ladder.
Some stay that the events of the ninth September influenced badly the youth. They say that seeing the falling Twin Towers made children worry about their relatives, as well as about strangers. However, only few people addressed to psychologists for professional help. Obviously, there are many people, who thought to cope with a psychological trauma alone. However, there are only few of them. Moreover, in most cases, only adults needed professional help. Hence, I may conclude that the bad influence was overestimated.
The essay was aimed at analyzing the generation 9/11. This is the modern generation, which representatives have seen the events of the ninth September, 2001. There is no single mind how the events influenced the teenagers. In the essay, I proved that the catastrophe made such children, teenagers nowadays, stronger. The modern generation and the previous generation are totally different. However, I should mentions that both generations have a lot in common. Moreover, the representatives of the both generations can teach each other and learn from the other ones.
References:
Kantrowitz B. Generation 9-11. 2010. Newsweek.
Kotkin J. Are millennials the screwed generation? 2012. Newsweek.
Quindlen A. One day, now broken in two. 2010. Newsweek
