Cool At 23 Summary
In the article entitled Cool at 13, Drift at 23, Jan Hoffman speaks about how at 13 years old these kids were cool, but when they were in high school their social status often plummeted. First, Hoffman discusses that the kids didn’t turn out okay. In high school they began struggling in many ways. It was their early rush into pseudomature behavior that set them up for trouble. The writer talks about how in their 20’s, many of them have had troubles with intimate relationships, alcohol, marijuana, and criminal activity. “They’re doing more extreme things to try to act cool,” Dr. Allen said. “They’re still living in their middle-school world.” As fast moving middle schoolers, they were driven by a longing to impress friends.
In addition,
she points out that they interviewed the subjects and their close friends and found out that 20% of them fall into the cool kid category. These young teenagers sought out friends who were physically attractive; their romances were more numerous, sexualy exploring, and emotionally intense. They also dabbed in minor delinquency, skipping school, sneaking into the movies, and vandalism. Moreover, she emphasizes that as they turned 23, the study found that they had a 45% greater rate of problems resulting from alcohol than their socially slower-moving peers. Many attributed failed adult romantic relationships to social status. These former “cool kids” ratings were 24% lower than the average young adult in how well they got along with others. The teenagers who lead the social parade in middle school - determining everyone else's choices in clothes, social media, and even notebook covers - have a heavy burden for which they are not ready for.
Finally, Hoffman concludes that At 14, this boy was popular, kissed 6 different girls, got himself in trouble, but by 22 he was a high school dropout. On the other hand, a teenage girl who did the same things, earned her bachelor's degree, had no trouble with the law, and was in a good job. Dr. Mitchell J. Prinstein, a professor said that “while teeenagers all long to be accepted by their peers studies suggest that parents can reinforce qualities that will help them withstand the pressure to be cool, too fast.
In addition,
she points out that they interviewed the subjects and their close friends and found out that 20% of them fall into the cool kid category. These young teenagers sought out friends who were physically attractive; their romances were more numerous, sexualy exploring, and emotionally intense. They also dabbed in minor delinquency, skipping school, sneaking into the movies, and vandalism. Moreover, she emphasizes that as they turned 23, the study found that they had a 45% greater rate of problems resulting from alcohol than their socially slower-moving peers. Many attributed failed adult romantic relationships to social status. These former “cool kids” ratings were 24% lower than the average young adult in how well they got along with others. The teenagers who lead the social parade in middle school - determining everyone else's choices in clothes, social media, and even notebook covers - have a heavy burden for which they are not ready for.
Finally, Hoffman concludes that At 14, this boy was popular, kissed 6 different girls, got himself in trouble, but by 22 he was a high school dropout. On the other hand, a teenage girl who did the same things, earned her bachelor's degree, had no trouble with the law, and was in a good job. Dr. Mitchell J. Prinstein, a professor said that “while teeenagers all long to be accepted by their peers studies suggest that parents can reinforce qualities that will help them withstand the pressure to be cool, too fast.