Introduction
For the Youth Culture Experience Paper, students were expected to participate in a
community-based youth culture experience. After a lot of searching, I was able to find and attend
an event that I believe to qualify as such. On 4/19, I attended a soccer game of a local high
school, Heritage High. While at the school and game, I was able to make many astute
observations about the culture of the youth at Heritage High. I had to come into the environment
with an open mind, to see for myself the culture of the average youth at a secular high school.
After doing so, the results I got were shocking.
Three Observations that Stuck Out
As I was at the game, I observed many different things. I decided to take notes and write
down what I was seeing, in order to have the facilities to make an accurate assessment. The first
observation I observed was the language of the youth. I noticed hearing particular phrases and
trends that are specifically prevalent to high school age students. What stuck out about this was
the fact that everyone was saying the same things, seeking approval from one another. Another
observation I noticed was the hostility between teams. The two teams had it out for each other
the whole game, exchanging words and getting physical. What stood out to me about this was the
fact that at the end of the game, they all shook hands and were at peace. The last thing that I
observed was the lack of school spirit. Maybe it was because of the sport, but I noticed a lack of
school merchandise, outlandish color coordinated outfits, and face paint. This stood out to me
because of the difference in school spirit from when I was in high school compared to now.
Status in Social Systems Reflected in Youth
While at this High School soccer game, I saw aspects of a multitude of social systems in
the youth at the game. What stuck out to me the most was the hierarchy of popularity. The
instant I got to the field, I could tell who was perceived as popular and who wasn’t. One instance
I saw was a student seeking popularity, and said student was willing to put another student down
in order to do so. I believe that this reflects a social system that is intact today, both in the youth
and in grown adults. It is very common in secular environments to see people putting each other
down in order to gain something for themselves. Whether the incentive be popularity, monetary,
or anything else, it is something that I saw reflected in the youth at the Heritage High School
soccer game.
My Motivation to Invest in the Next Generation
After attending the Heritage High School soccer game and making observations about the
youth, I have been inspired and my level of motivation to invest in the next generation has
certainly gone up. After seeing firsthand some of the problems that the youth have to deal with, I
want to make a difference and make a change in these toxic cultural norms and systems. I want
to be the reason that a kid decides to be a kid, and not conform to the system. I want to be used
be God to create legitimate change in this world. Even if a single kid is impacted by me, that
would be enough to make it all worth it. Because making a difference in even one kids life is
something unforgettable. And after completing this project and learning in class, I can say with
confidence that I am ready to go out there and do it.
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