When adults reminisce about being a teen, they remember the so-called good ol' days when they didn't have a care in the world. Then they are brought back to the present, and realize that life had, at some point, took a turn for the worse. This thought process, which I'm sure nearly every adult has experienced, has created the notion that if you're not spending your summer in a factory, you will not be prepared for life as an adult. Adults are under the impression that kids today are lazy and unwilling to do work, something that they will have to eventually realize is completley untrue.
Frankly, my parents believe that I still haven't been exposed to "the real world" because I act like everything is "all fun and games." (quotes directly from my parents, actually) In fact, I'm fairly certain that if it was their choice, every moment in my life would be spent doing homework, working the cashier at a Safeway, or going on mission trips to Guatemala. I say this not to question the value of these expriences, but to point out that insane amounts of work aren't necessary to expose teens to "the real world." One mission trip a year, perhaps, unless you truly enjoy the work that you do.
Most teens are probably aware what the "real world" is like. No, we haven't gotten a real job or bought a house yet, but when we do, I am confident we'll be able to handle it just as well or better than our parents did. If only our parents thought the same way.
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