A Look At Generation Gaps

23/4/2007 - Click 'n' Go (1986-2003)

I asked myself (Aylah, 15) and Nick (16) a series of questions about their generation...

Are young people today very different to you as a you as a Click 'n' Go? How do older generations compare to yours?
Aylah: Yes, I think my generation is definetely different. People younger than myself are really sheltered, growing up in to a world where it's racist, sexist or something along those lines if you do anything! Everything has to be politically correct. My generation is really defined by technology and a lot of media influence. Other generations never had the access to things we do now, and it's quite funny to see older generations try to use a computer. I really think our parents expect a lot from us as well. They don't understand that school work nowadays is a lot more difficult and complicated to when they were in school. They really don't understand that sometimes we actually do need a few hours of un-interrupted study.
Nick: For people younger than myself, I think that their learning is a lot harder than what ours is at the moment, and I think they will be expected to be better than the last generation. And as for older generations, everything back in their day was completely different. They didn't have as much technology, and their learning was really minimal. Our requirements today are a lot more than what they had.
What are you most concerned about as a young person.
Aylah: Getting through school with good marks. I really worry that I wont get into the university that I want to, or that I'll have enough money to move out AND go to uni. I don't really sweat the whole peer pressure thing, though.
Nick: I'm concerned about school- the whole end product of what will happen when I'm done. I'm also concerned about what will happen in the next 5-10 years of my life- whether or not I have succeeded in what I've wanted to do.
What are your views on marriage and having children?
Aylah: I'd like to get married someday, but I want to do it after I have finished school and done all the things that I want to do with my life first. I suppose one day I will have kids, but I only want one. It's too expensive these days to have kids!
Nick: I love the idea of getting married and having kids, but only one-two kids. I like the idea of being in love and taking that to the next level and being with that person for the rest of your life. I want kids to carry on the next generation, and if I only have one or two kids, it's easier to look after them and a lot less expensive.
Is it easy to find employment? What types of jobs have you had?
Aylah: In Australia it is. In America, there is basically no one willing to hire young people, they think its too much of a risk or liability. But definetely in Australia it's easy for kids my age to get a job. I've worked as a coffee barista for the past 8 months, and before that I wasn't too worried about getting a job.
Nick: I think it's easy to find employment, though most people are too lazy to go out and find jobs (and that includes a lot of people older than myself). I work on a block, and have been for about a year and a half.
How far do you plan to go in school? Do you want to go to University or TAFE?
Aylah: I want to finish year 12 and I REALLY want to go to University to study Psychology, and I plan to be there for about 5-6 years.
Nick: I will finish year 12, and I plan to be at University for about 6 years to study architecture.
Has your family been affected by war at all? How?
Aylah: My dad was in the military when I was a kid, and that caused us to move around a lot. And the year that I was born a war broke out, so my dad was always working. We lived on the military based and my mum never knew if my dad was going to get called out to fight, so she was always pretty stressed out. There is a war going on right now, but it hasn't affected my family.
Nick: Nope! My family is LAZY!
What age do you want to move out of home and why?
Aylah: I'd like to move out when I finish year 12, so somewhere between 17 and 18. When I do move out, it will be to move overseas back to America or to travel, but I haven't decided what to do first.
Nick: I'd like to move out roughly at 18. I want to be more independent and with my girlfriend and go to University.
Do you as a youth have money? What do you spend it on?
Aylah: Yes, my job pays me pretty well. I spend it on my clothes, I pay for some of my schooling, and I buy random things like makeup and phone credit. I also spend money on my boyfriend and on going out. I'm trying to save up for university and for a house when I move out in two years. Hopefully the economy is still low in America in two years time, because at the moment it's really cheap to buy a decent home!
Nick: Yes, I do have money. I buy clothes, I pay for school and uniforms, I basically buy anything I really need like toiletries and food for my pet. I also spend money on my girlfriend and on going out.
What do you do for fun and what rules do your parents have in place in regards to your leisure time?
Aylah: I go to the cinema or I go watch bands play locally. Sometimes I go to parties, but not that often. Mostly I just spend a lot of time with my boyfriend, shopping or walking around. My parents are pretty leniant with my leisure time. I don't really have a curfew, well not a set one anyway. It sort of depends on what mood my parents are in at the time. I can go to parties and I can drink as long as I don't come home drunk. And my boyfriend and I frequently sleep over at each other's houses on the weekends.
Nick: I like to play team sports, and I basically do everything that Aylah does (she is my girlfriend!). I don't have a curfew, and I can drink as long as I warn my parents that I am.

***Aylah is a caucasion female who is an adolescent in Australia, but also grew up in America. Nick is a caucasion male who is an adolescent in Australia***

Members of this generation find it incredibly easy to find employment and make money. A good number of them would really like to go to University, and nearly everyone wants to move out of home ASAP. Most of them don't want many kids, saying that it is too expensive. In terms of recreation, most young Australians like to party and drink alcohol, with permission from parents a lot of the time. They love their sports. Most are concerned about what the next few years holds for them.

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**Trivia**
97% own a computer ...94% own a cell phone...56% own an mp3 player ...76% use Instant Messaging. ...15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week ...34% use websites as their primary source of news ...28% own a blog and 44% read blogs...49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing

Famous members of Click 'n' Go

Orlando Bloom***Kanye West***Liv Tyler***John Mayer***Katie Holmes***Bam Margera***Christina Aguilera***Jake Gylenhall***Kirsten Dunst***Jessica Simpson***Paris Hilton***Nicole Richie***Guy Sebastian***Jessica Alba***Jennifer Hawkins***Mischa Barton