As a first-year student at New Trier High School, I have many mixed feelings and worries about teen violence. It disturbs me to think that anyone could even think about bringing a gun to school and shooting someone, let alone actually doing it.
There are so many reasons for a teen to turn violent to the point that they want to hurt themselves or others. Sometimes they do it for attention or from the anger built within. Problems at home, substance abuse, ostracism, violent parents, mental illness, the media and availability of guns are major influences on teens to become something destructive, someone they are not, something they do not deserve.
Revenge is one of the most popular reasons for a teen to turn violent. I think that the main cause for revenge is peer pressure. It is crazy to think about how much a kid would do to be popular or to fit in.
I think there are many ways that teen violence can be decreased and prevented. There should be youth groups at schools and churches, where any student can go to talk out their feelings and problems with other students without having to get an adult involved. I think that with the help of the community and all people working together, there can be ways to help a teen if they need it. Having parents involved in their lives would definitely help troubled teens.
