Stephen Serene

Stephen Serene

In their own words, 16-year-olds discuss the pressures of getting into college, dating, blogging and more

16 by 16

• Ari Rubin
• Carlyle Manns
• Caroline Cox-Orrell
• Chelsey Knight
• Janelle Norman
• Meredith-Leigh Pleasants
• Tia Whipple
• Kelvin Bates
• Lisa Bunn
• Shukan Patel
• Lina Li
• Stephen Serene
• Jullia Park
• Patty Yau
• Ana Baric
• CJ Martino

Getting A Head Start

• The New World of Internships
Those unpaid summer jobs are no longer for rich kids, college juniors—or even just for summer


Multimedia

• Sixteen Candles
Inside a Sweet 16 Party


Now that I am 16, I am starting to feel responsible for helping to solve some of the world's big issues. Until now, I have blamed poverty and disease in Africa, global warming, discrimination, national debt accumulation and war on adults. Now that I am about to become an adult I am gaining the ability to help mitigate these problems.

I recently received my driver’s license and began driving instead of using public transportation. My contribution to global warming has increased significantly and I must now work to fix that. My impending entrance into civil society also brings responsibilities. Soon, I will have to work to decrease discrimination and national debt. Until now I have just been content to educate myself about these issues. In the near future, however, I will have to decide to what extent I wish to help those in sickness and poverty. Will I study development? If I do, will I live intermittently in developing countries and America, with the family sacrifices such a life would entail? If I work in an unrelated field, how much money will I give to charity?

I am very excited to try and help the world. Yet I fear the day when the problems I have ignored or failed to solve lie on my conscience.

Next: Jullia Park >>

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MAURICIO FUNES, El Salvador's President, commenting on the flooding and landslides that have killed at least 124 people in the country
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Quotes of the Day »

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MAURICIO FUNES, El Salvador's President, commenting on the flooding and landslides that have killed at least 124 people in the country

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