To me, respect means to hold someone in high esteem. I respect my elders. I respect my teachers. I respect my family and friends. Nevertheless, am I the only one these days? I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure many people still have manners. However, there are still a lot of people out there who have no respect or manners at all and just do not care. Maybe these kids forget that once out of high school and in the "real world," these behaviors are unacceptable.
Professionals in the workplace will not tolerate sophomoric behavior. After graduation from high school, "young adults" who have not shed obnoxious behaviors will not be considered adult for long. Students have to learn to compromise, be considerate, and respectful. Traits that are rarely seen in the average high schooler. These students with atrocious manners will be shocked after graduation when they see how their behavior affects others.
Let me give you some examples:
Most mornings, I go into the school cafeteria to do homework or read. Typically, someone will come up to my table and drag away one of the chairs. Do I ever hear, "May I take this?" or, "Is this being used?" Very rarely. You may wonder if I actually need the chairs. No, I don't. But that's not the point. The point is that too many people think the world revolves around them.
When I see classmates misbehave, I'm embarrassed to be in the same room as they. I'm no angel, but if a teacher requests I do something reasonable, I do it. One time I saw students misbehave so horribly, the teacher cried. Did those students stop? No. Did the majority seem remorseful? No. I even overheard one classmate say: "Let's make her cry again tomorrow." When I heard this remark, I was filled with disgust.
Many times, I see kids make faces at the teachers' backs, or give them the finger, or even talk back to their faces. I am incredulous that kids these days have the nerve to act this way in front of their elders.
Where is the compassion in everyone today? Is it society's fault or did the majority of parents go wrong in raising their children? How can we correct this? I don't know. However, I do know we have to do something, or else the world is going to be one rude, cranky and obnoxious place in which to live.