Everyone has problems, don't they?

Read about four young people sharing

their very diferent accounts of the issues they face growing up.
A . Alexandra
My peers and I have been told that "the sky's the limit", thanks to encouragement
from
parents and teachers. As a university student, I've had to work hard and I've
escaped
obstacles such as failing my exams. owever, the recession has left students like
me
wondering if our possibilities really are so limitless. Many don't fully understand the
ins
and outs of the current economic crisis! only the closing down of the local
"oolworths
really brought home the situation. #ecession or no recession, graduation is a
daunting
concept. And with small businesses closing down, term$time %obs are increasingly
hard
to come by, but as companies are unable to pay us for internships or work
experience,
such part$time employment is valuable. After creating schemes that have allowed
students from a range of socio$economic backgrounds to pursue higher education,
the
government should now ensure that those who can't a&ord to accept unpaid
experience
are not pushed o& the %ob ladder before they even reach it.
. !rene
I am not shy and I am independent, so I've had a lot of opportunities to meet
people. I
don't 'nd it di(cult, but there are a lot of other young people with various
disabilities
who do. I think there are also worries about people with disabilities having
relationships.
)ou shouldn't wrap people up in cotton wool %ust because they've got a disability. I
started Internet dating 've years ago and it's a good way to get talking to people.
*acebook is also good. +ut young people need more places to go out. It's not always
easy
for people with disabilities to get around. ,ometimes you have to take 've buses to
get
somewhere, or the buses run at stupid times. I've set up my own social club with
other
people supported by -nited #esponse. About ./ people come along and we chat
and I
01. 2here should be more clubs like this, and the government should send out a
survey
to young people with disabilities to ask them what they want to do. 3eople need the
opportunity to try something new.
". #amia
"hen I say the word "homeless", people visualise someone sitting on the street
pavement
in a cardboard box, looking terrible and perhaps even shouting at tra(c. 2his
bothers me
as I am friends with many homeless young people who are far from this stereotype.
It
bothers me more as I am one of them. "e are a group of people in society that
people are
often unaware of. "e are homeless, but we live in temporary accommodation $
hostels,
with a miniscule room or maybe a room shared with strangers. I live in shared
accommodation, with support from sta& at the local homeless charity. 2here are
people
who have su&ered domestic violence, abandonment, psychological abuse, sexual
abuse
and sheer neglect. 2hese are people who did not begin life with a fair chance. )et
here
they are, my friends, who have overcome these devastating situations and have the
will
not only to carry on but to also excel at what they do. ,o, the next time you hear
the word
"homeless", keep in mind that not all of us are shouting at the morning rush$hour
tra(c.
$. Eddie
My family, friends and I are discriminated against every day %ust because we are
travellers. I live with my parents and two brothers on a double$decker bus, and my
parents have always stayed in the same area, so I don't change schools. It's not a
very nice
thing to grow up with the feeling that people hate you %ust because of the way you
live
and %udge you before they even meet you %ust because they've heard something
bad about
a traveller. I've been called a "gippo" and a "thief" by kids at school. It used to upset
me,
but no one has ever gone further than calling me names. 2here probably are bad
travellers
out there who steal and stu&, but there are also bad people out there who live in
houses,
and who steal and do bad things. +ut, I don't stereotype people. And no matter
what their
race, gender, sex or si4e, neither should anyone else because it's never nice to be
the one
on the receiving end.
Adapted from: http566www.guardian.co.uk6society67//86apr69:6growing$up$young$
people
Answer the following %uestions by circling the most appropriate letter, A,
, " or $.
&ho'
A
" $
Alexandra !rene
#amia Eddie

(.
thinks people do not always have A + ;
0
e<ual opportunities to begin life with=
).
has acted in a speci'c way to help
people with disabilities spend time A + ;
0
together=
*.
feels people despise them because of
the way they live=
+. lives on a bus= A +
; 0

,.
feels that education doesn>t actually
o&er endless opportunities contrary A +
; 0
to widespread opinion=
-.
thinks plans should be put in place
to allow %ob opportunities for young A + ;
0
people after school=
..
feels society is not aware of
disadvantaged groups of people A +
; 0
such as theirs=