Day-to-day worries are normal, but what are people’s opinions on issues that may cause harm to their future, especially in a high schooler’s life? It’s hard for teenage students to keep up with everything happening in the world — specifically school, politics and reproductive rights. Under all of the burdening pressure, what are underclassmen high school students most worried about, and how might this impact them?
Freshman Thomas Radesky shared with us his economic worries and how our current government has been affecting his family and home life. He expressed that the government did not directly affect him and his family, but it did put them under a lot of stress.
“All the fear-mongering he’s doing, Trump is saying all this crazy stuff about abortion and the higher costs of living, I don’t think he wants it,” Radesky said. “I believe women should have the right to choose and that the way our economy is right now makes the cost of living higher.”
Abortion is a controversial topic in the world of politics. With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, 14 states have banned abortion while many others have made it almost impossible to receive treatment by “criminalizing the provision of abortion care after the earliest weeks of pregnancy,” as said by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Tariffs have also been a recent global problem. According to the Wall Street Journal, some of the tariffs in place and some that are set to kickstart soon are 25% on aluminum and steel, 104% on goods from China (first in February and again in March), global auto tariffs started on the third of April and a 25% tariff placed on goods from China and Mexico.
Radesky responded with his opinion on these taxes: “Tariffs make no one better off. We know companies will shift the extra expenses from tariffs onto the consumer, it’s just something they do.”
However, abortion and tariffs aren’t the only problems. Sophomore Temperance “Tempe” Stiverson worries about the classes they take. Yet, they try not to dwell much on what’s happening at school and how that may impact their future. Stiverson is especially worried about Trump’s plans to cut the Department of Education. They will be studying art in college, and are worried about Trump’s dismantling of the crucial department. Art is a form of self-expression for them, and they don’t want it to be taken away.
“I just try not to think about it and live in the moment. I think a healthy amount of worrying is also good because it can motivate me to study harder and do better in school, but I don’t want to get pulled under the water by it.” Stiverson says.
Stiverson lives in the present because that’s all they can control. This way, they can set up for a better future and also enjoy the simple moments. Even though they do worry, they try not to let it get to them as much as they can.
According to NeaToday, Trump has signed 20 executive orders to dismantle the Department of Education (DoED) but is pushing Congress to get rid of it completely. The plans to cut DoED impacts students by reducing the low-income opportunities that were funded by this department and getting rid of the protection based on prejudice and stereotypes.
The Department of Education is rolling back on its DEI initiatives. DEI stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The U.S. Department of Education is doing this to end discrimination and limit wasteful spending in the government. In an article written by Emmanuel Marshall, he talks about his experience at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) and how he benefited from the Male Student Success Initiative (MSSI) at his college. This program was founded to help colored men be successful in and out of the lecture hall.
“Within just over a month of joining MSSI, I received more support, guidance, and assistance than I had in the entire previous six months.” Marshal said.
As our government is changing, so do policies, laws and tariffs. In media and popular news sites, it’s normal to find perspectives from well-known celebrities, politicians and other big media people. But not just celebrities make up the whole world — adolescents and students do as well. It’s also important to take into consideration what students are thinking, especially when these decisions our government is making impacts their future and values as students.
