Cuz we got that dough...

The commotion sounded like an intense radio contest with free giveaways. “Gin and Juice, In Da Club, Lil Wayne, Make ‘Em Say Ahh, that song with Gucci Mane…ahh what’s that one called, Drake, Jamie Foxx,” the teens shouted with enthusiasm. One adolescent bobbed his head and tapped his pencil with rhythmic acuity trying to re-create the beat to a popular hip-hop song. A simple task was asked of them: to write down every song, lyric or artist they could think of that’s central message is about using drugs or alcohol. They had 90 seconds. Easy assignment. They scribbled with diligence, and their papers became reminiscent of a Top 40s list.

Turn on the radio and the messages are ubiquitous. Drink up.

“We pop champagne cuz we got that dough.”

“Fill up my cup (drink)”

“Can’t stop now more shots lets go”

“Time and time again while I’m sipping on this gin”

“Let’s just stay in the moment, smoke some weed, drink some wine”

“Blame it on the vodka.”

The messages are clear. Drinking and using drugs is the formula to have fun.

The forces are pervasive, and the kids will tell you firsthand pop-culture is a difficult influence to go up against. These kinds of discussions are part of an approach I’ve found myself using in my work with teens. They are often adolescents who may have veered off track, were caught red-handed, and could be at risk for falling victim to the afflictions of substance abuse. Allow them a chance to talk about drugs and alcohol in a real context, where they can confront the reality head on, and a lively discussion ensues. I love these conversations because they are genuine. They talked about a world wihout drugs. "Half the jails would be empty." "There'd be less violence." "Less killing." "People would be able to reach their potential." "There would be less people who are homeless."

Clearly, they get it. Drugs and alcohol are bad. And to be honest, many of them have most likely been exposed to the stuff, especially by their senior year of high school. But we still need to exert our energy towards these teens. They are a vital ally in the fight against substance abuse.

It’s one thing to be able to educate kids about the effects of drug abuse and addiction, but it’s a whole other beast to tackle when you are talking about competing with the multi-billion dollar industry of media. While it may seem difficult to broach these topics and offer viable alternatives, it’s important to put the realities on the table. We can talk about stuff all day long, but if we can’t be honest with kids about the availability, accessibility, and prevalence of drugs and alcohol use, then who are we kidding?

Inundated by course media messages and pop-culture, how do we get through to them? In a world ridden with anything but subtle innuendos, sometimes it’s more than worthwhile to sit back and encourage kids to pick apart those messages, or even to just acknowledge what the message is and its far-reaching implications.

While still impressionable teens, many of the teens worry about the ramifications music has on younger generations. These same songs filling our airways are also reaching the youngest of listeners. We are talking about kindergarten-age children singing along to, “Blame it on the Goose, gotcha feeling Loose.” That’s where the teens come in. In a way, it’s out of our hands as adults, because those youngsters look up to teenagers. Big brothers. Older sisters. Cool cousins. When I asked the room full of teens if they would allow their younger brother or sister to listen to the music the enjoy, I got blank stares. It was a difficult question to answer, but of course they wouldn’t let them listen to it. But how do you do that?

Ultimately, we have to propel our youth to become role models for the next generation of kids. A competing message has to come from somewhere cool.

Puzzle

In an effort to assuage some anxiety, a friend and I had a lengthy e-mail exchange weeks ago where we vented about all that stirs us, especially pertaining to our current circumstances. During this conversation, she introduced me to a new paradigm, one that is particularly palpable for me, and for just about anyone. The idea is simple: “I am in love with hope.” It’s from Mitch Albom’s latest book, and perhaps you can glean your own meaning from that quote. My friend made a poignant remark, “without hope we have….nothing….negativity.” I think she is absolutely right. As I wonder about the endless possibilities that life can offer, I am reminded that there lies tremendous opportunity and optimism in the unknown. Uncertainty can often breed discomfort, but when faced with such ambiguity we often find ourselves reaching out to find answers. From now I want to fully embrace the curiosity that accompanies such unknown. For those who know me well, you know I am an inquisitive person. I constantly ask questions. In a way, I thrive off this. When we ask questions we can learn of new possibilities. Never do I want to feel like my life is a predictable sequence of events. To me, this would feel generic and outside the realm of my own individuality. I want to create a life path that will make sense once you look back, even though it may not right now. I kind of see life as a puzzle in a way as we wiggle, shift, twist, and intermingle all these different pieces into the bigger picture. This enables us to start from anywhere and go on.

Eager

With a workforce that comprises a heterogeneous blend of baby boomers and members of Generation Y, there lies a challenging dichotomy in how we operate to get things accomplished, and it’s got me thinking. As a member of the Peter Pan Generation, defined by our postponement of a socially acceptable version of adulthood, our way of viewing the world, and ability, or inability, to make things happen is vastly different than that of our parent’s generation. Thriving off the energy of instantaneous happenings, be it in the form of social media, entertainment, or perhaps even through other lifestyle options like fast food, we’ve been conditioned to believe that things just happen. And they happen with haste. The old virtue of patience has essentially been discarded along with yesterday’s Big Mac wrapper. We are constantly striving to stay au courant -- whether it’s with the new layout of Facebook, the fluctuating rate of unemployment, or even just rent –- it’s tough to keep up. It’s like we are in this perpetual chase-mode mentality, racing after the dollar bill that’s attached to the nearly invisible string. We are always trying to discern the next new thing, and just when we begin to do so — POOF — another new thing emerges into the mix. It’s no wonder we call ourselves a “quick study” and “fast learner.” How can we wait and expect to be patient when we already feel behind? Engrossed in a fast-pace world, how do we find a way to work with those who seem to have taken hold of the notion of patience? How can anything grandiose come to fruition if we continuously have to catch our breath? Sometimes I envy those baby boomers who seem to realize and accept that things take time. My mother would always tell me, “everything will happen in due time.” As I immerse myself in my career as a young professional, I need to remember that it’s not always about making things happen. Sometimes you just have to take things in. While I will be the first to admit that I am impatient, I think for now I will characterize myself as eager.