“Approximately one million teenage girls give birth each year in the United States” according to The Social Impact on Being a Teen Mom written by Rose Welton. Positive and negative perceptions have been associated with teen parenting and parenting. Pregnancy at a young age has a strong impact that interferes with social life, relationships, education, work and personal well-being. There are also external factors that are barriers that prevent teen parents from having the success they desire. There are both positive and negative scenarios that determine an individual's ability to have a successful academic life, which has a strong relationship with financial stability and social outcome as a teen parent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Pregnancy is a big responsibility, one that most teenagers are not in a position to take on. According to Sheryl Faber in the article Pros and Cons on Teenage Parenting, becoming a parent earlier than expected causes teens to "find themselves unprepared to deal with this type of life upheaval and challenge." At a young age, most teenagers do not have the adequate funds needed to raise their children. Most high school teenagers still have to think about their future, and most students don't have jobs because they attend school full time. The thought of getting a high-paying job or going to college are concepts that most teenagers don't dream of while in high school. When teens become parents, they are likely not to be financially stable, “more than 60% of teen mothers are living in poverty at the time of their child's birth.” Most teen parents receive support from their parents, but will eventually have to apply for public assistance programs and get part-time jobs. Balancing working to provide for your children and your personal needs while trying to spend time with your children increases the likelihood that they will drop out of school or be at risk of doing so. Dropping out of high school often leads to a lack of “experience or education to work in high-paying jobs,” Faber says. Dropping out of high school or not going to college can have a major impact on teen parents. According to Adolescent Pregnancy: Current Trends and Issues, written by Jonathan Klein, “The United States faces the complex issue of teen pregnancy that ultimately impacts educators, government officials, and young people themselves.” Being a teenage parent is presented as a complex issue because there are not many resources readily available for them. Most schools are unable to accommodate the schedules of teenage parents. Like teen mothers, teen fathers are more likely to have “poor academic achievement, higher dropout rates, limited financial resources, and reduced earning potential” (Klein) than their children. peers who are not fathers. According to The Teen Parent Academy, the quality of education used for other students is not available to pregnant teens or young parents. Female adolescent parents between the ages of thirteen and twenty are more likely to be "considered at risk of dropping out of school, resulting in the risk of not receiving further educational support" (Baptise Jr., Walker) due to lack of programswith special needs for young parents. The author implies that there are young parents who try to continue their studies during and after pregnancy. This is another factor that may contribute to young parents failing to complete high school. Most teens don't master basic learning skills, such as keeping track of their finances and finding a good job. Many high-paying companies require college degrees and experience in related fields. Being financially unstable and not having enough to provide for a child at a young age is a negative consequence for a teenage parent. Aside from financial hardship, teen parents are also prone to social changes that lead to isolation. According to Welton, strong emotions like “anger, denial and guilt” are inevitable and difficult for teen moms to overcome. The demands of society and those of their newborns are difficult to balance. The social repercussions are within the limits of the possibilities of manifesting themselves in the lives of teenage mothers. There is a high percentage of teen moms who drop out of high school permanently or finish it years later. Welton says, “About 50 percent of teen mothers graduate from high school by the time they reach age 22.” Not attending school impedes academic success which can interfere with future-oriented goals. Isolation is another major social change. In addition to attending classes, most teenagers are involved in extracurricular activities and should refrain from activities due to the time they may have to spend with their children. Long hours or overtime are also attributable to isolation, and as Faber suggests, "the cost of child care and living expenses may prevent them" from attending any social events. Feeling overwhelmed by your new lifestyle can be linked to the reason for isolation. Despite the challenges and obstacles that come with pregnancy at a young age, there are also exceptional outcomes. According to Cynthia Rosengard in Concepts in the Advantages and Disadvantages of Teenage Childbearing Among Pregnant Adolescents, “how the timing would be beneficial to them in their future.” Considering that pregnancy at a young age is unexpected, the need to drop out of school at that time may serve as motivation for teen parents to complete school at a later age or obtain something equivalent to a high school diploma. Motivation while being a teen parent is one of the biggest benefits. Motivation, according to Pros and Cons of Teenage Parenting, allows young parents to have time to reflect on their current situation and think more about their future along with that of their children. Most adolescents may have taken the wrong path before becoming parents (Faber). After realizing that they would become responsible for someone other than themselves, they became motivated to do well and have dreams for the future. A once-strong negative effect on academic achievement for early parenthood can often lead to opportunities. The young people in question have options such as receiving social assistance, but are required to show proof of school attendance. General equivalent degree (GED) programs have become more accessible to everyone, including teenagers. More and more schools are also adapting their policies and welcoming teenage pregnancies. Considering that there are more options available to young parents who want help and want to earn a college degree in the future, this has led to a decrease in the number of those parents.
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