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Value of Marriage: How Teens Feel About Real World Issues

How Do Teens Feel About Marriage?55% of teens find a positive value in marriage...which means many don't.

Here you'll find StageofLife.com's summary report on teens' attitudes toward "marriage," compiled from the data, insights and essays shared by students in high school and college participating in StageofLife.com's proprietary student writing contest series.

Additionally, below is a collection of over 80 of the essays from high school and college students as they answered the writing contest writing prompt..."What is the value of marriage?"


Student Reach:

Over 4,520 students from all 50 US states and dozens of countries visited the StageofLife.com writing contest page during the month of essay contest (Feb. 2011), and scores of high school and college students submitted their thoughts about marriage via their 500 word essay.  From the essay submissions, five themes/trends emerged:

Trends:

1.Religion: Religion played a huge role in many of the essays. Students used religion—mostly Christianity—to describe the importance of the sacrament of matrimony.

2.Parents: Students’ parents’ marriages affected how these students viewed marriage: if the parents’ marriage was successful, then the student viewed marriage positively; if not, then the students often resented marriage.

3. Marriage definitions: Most students summed up marriage using the same, or similar, words—that marriage involves both love and commitment. These two values were detrimental in defining a successful marriage.

4. Reality strikes: Many students wrote about the “reality” of marriage as much as they wrote about the idealism and romanticism of marriage. These students understand the commitment involved in marriage—not one student wrote about the positivity of divorce.

5.  Marriage is serious:  Whether positive or negative in tone, almost all of the students agreed on one thing - marriage is serious.

Data: 

Of the high school and college students participating in the essay contest...

  • 55% had a positive view of marriage (see below essay samples)
  • 28% had a negative view of marriage (see below essay samples)
  • 17% had a neutral or took an unbiased approach to the topic (see below essay samples)

The Essays: 

    Immediately below, you'll find featured links to the StageofLife.com winning essay, our semi-finalists and over 80 other essays from teenagers that answer the question, "What is the value of marriage?"

    Please take a few moments to read an essay or two. 

    If you have the time, make a comment on the responses you enjoyed the most.  We know the student writers will love hearing your positive input (they'll get an email notifying them if you comment on their contest entry).


    Student Writing Contest Winner


    Winners (2 this month):



    High School Finalists:

    College Finalists:

    Aside from the finalists, we had a wide variety of passionate teen essays about the topic of marriage.  We've categorized the essay responses into three buckets (in no particular order):

    How do teens feel about marriage?

    Positive View of Marriage

    1. Marriage: I Gotta Watch You Get Old? (Marriage is how God binds us to Him forever)

    2. Marriage: Something ‘More’ (Marry someone you love—who loves you just as much)

    3. Marriage: You’re Stuck With Me (She wonders why anyone would question the value of marriage)

    4. Marriage: Values are Slowly Slipping (Marriage is sacred—but Americans don’t realize that)

    5. Marriage: The Adhesive That Loses Stickiness (This writer wants to find someone to love her forever)

    6. Marriage: The Reminder (Love is the most important value in our life)

    7. Marriage: It’s Priceless (Marriage should make you feel like the luckiest person in the world)

    8. Marriage: The Unit of Humanity (Marriage is a blessing from God)

    9. Marriage: What Does God Say? (Marriage is not a snap decision)

    10. Marriage: ROTFLOL (Technology should not replace “organic” love)

    11. Marriage: Together Forever (Two people should not live together before they are married)

    12. Marriage: A Prepared Couple Can Make It (Marriage is a huge responsibility)

    13. Marriage: How I Won the Genetic Lottery (Marriage is about patience and love)

    14. Marriage: Here Lies the Key to a Life with No Regrets (Marriage strengthens people)

    15. LATE—Marriage: Maybe Arranged is Better (This writer comes from a long line of successful arranged marriages)

    16. Marriage: The Viaduct to Sempiternal Bliss (Marriage can help two people grow as individuals)

    17. What Is the Value of Marriage? (This writer believes marriage is about companionship and commitment)

    18. Marriage: My Opinion (Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman)

    19. Marriage: A Doubtless Forever (Marriage should be a doubtless decision)

    20. Marriage: The Wedding Words (Marriage is both a promise, and a journey)

    21. Marriage: My Prince Will One Day Come (This writer looks forward to marriage)

    22. Marriage: Disney’s Designated Future (Marriage has both charming and practical factors)

    23. Marriage: My Views (Marriage is a commitment—and it involves sacrifice)

    24. Marriage: A Brief Essay (Love is the value of marriage)

    25. Marriage: Marriage and Its Values (Marriage is very valuable)

    26. Marriage: The Real Thing and Why It’s Great (Marriage ties two people together—and must be taken seriously)

    27. Marriage: The Commitment (Marriage is the eternal union of two people who love each other)

    28. Marriage: More Than Just the Title Husband and Wife (Marriage is the promise of loving each other and protecting each other forever)

    29. Marriage: The Most Loyal and Sacred Form of Love (Marriage is the best sign of love)

    30. Marriage: A Sacred Stage (Marriage means spending your life with one person)

    31. Marriage: Let Me Keep My Childhood Dream (Marriage is a risk worth taking)

    32. Marriage: A Perfect Design (Marriage must not deviate from God’s plan)

    33. Marriage: A Commitment to Keeping a Promise (Marriage is a promise to love each other for a really long time)

    34. Marriage: Becoming One (Marriage is love—and an experience)

    35. Marriage: An Underrated Blessing (Everyone should appreciate marriage more)

    36. Marriage: Lawful Best Friendship (This writer doesn’t want a Hallmark-induced type marriage)

    37. Marriage: Sure, Why Not? (Marriage is an enjoyable life opportunity)

    38. Marriage: An Idea of the Past? (Marriage is an important sacrament that needs reviving)

    39. Marriage: True Unification (Marriage is a great investment to make towards your future)

    40. Marriage: An Act of Promise (A successful marriage means keeping the promises you make at the altar)

    41. Marriage: What are its Values to You? (Marriage is, simply put, about love)

    42. Marriage: It Only Works With the Perfect Person (This writer is waiting for the “perfect” person before she marries)

    43. Marriage: The Greatest Joy (This writer’s parents taught her the values of a good marriage)

    44. What is the value of marriage? (This writer thinks it is a good idea to live together before you are married, to make sure the person you are with is the right person)

    45. Marriage: A Fairytale I Hope Comes True (This writer hopes marriage is like a fairytale)

    46. Marriage: Loving Each Other (A story about the writer’s friend—who after becoming pregnant and broke, met the guy of her dreams)

    Negative View of Marriage

    1. Marriage: Isn’t What It’s Cracked Up to Be (People need to take marriage more seriously than they do)

    2. Marriage: A Right or a Privilege? (Homosexuals are discriminated against because they are not allowed to marry)

    3. Marriage? (Don’t get married because it might not last)

    4. Marriage: The Highway Leading to Hell? (Love does not solve everything)

    5. Marriage: Thinking Beyond the Vows (This writer’s parent’s divorce has left her feeling jaded)

    6. Marriage: Overrated, and Yet Something Beautiful (This writer thinks that people do not understand the true meaning of marriage)

    7. Marriage: Cause Love’s Such an Old Fashioned Word (Marriage is about being accepted by society)

    8. Marriage: To Each His or Her Own (Marriage seems like having another parent)

    9. Marriage: The Aftermath (A narrative about how a woman must take care of her ex’s dog)

    10. Marriage: The Hidden Truth (Marriage can be very intense and hurtful)

    11. Marriage: Call Me Romantic… (Marriage is no longer a sacred bond)

    12. Marriage: Only A Label (Two people don’t have to be married to stay together forever)

    13. Marriage: Nothing Lasts Forever (A poem about her father leaving her mother)

    14. Marriage: Probably Not For Me (People should focus on “self love” and independence)

    15. Marriage: An Illusion, But Who’s It Fooling? (A prose piece about a mother leaving her husband and children)

    16. Marriage: A Lost Cause? (This writer questions whether or not any marriage can make it)

    17. Marriage: It’s Not Worth It! (A prose piece about the negative effects of some marriages)

    18. Marriage: Not Even An Option (This writer’s parents’ negative relationship has adversely affected her life)

    19. Marriage: Key to Success! (A marriage’s success depends on how much you value marriage)

    20. Marriage: Why Are Rights Restricted? (This writer questions why gay marriage is outlawed in most states)

    21. Marriage: My Rules (This writer will only get married if her potential spouse passes her rules)

    22. Marriage: No Way Jose (Marriage is illogical and pointless)

    23. Marriage: Stay Strong (Marriage is “hard labor”—but it can also be rewarding)

    Neutral View of Marriage

    1. Marriage: Do I or Don’t I? (This writer is not sure whether or not she wants to get married)

    2. Marriage: A Word (Marriage is a word for two people in love)

    3. Marriage: For Some But Not For All (Marriage may work well for some people, but not for everyone)

    4. Marriage: A Legal Binding (Marriage is legal work; love is binding)

    5. Marriage: Imagine Them Ugly, and the Time You Can Endure (When you marry someone, make sure you know what you are doing)

    6. Marriage: Something to be Thought About (Marriage is what you make of it)

    7. Marriage: The Idea (A person shouldn’t rush into marriage)

    8. Marriage: A Fairytale Ending (Marriage means different things to different people)

    9. What is the Value of Marriage? (Marriage is a must for a country’s success)

    10. Marriage: Can anyone really define it? (Marriage has no formal meaning)

    11. Marriage: Worthwhile or Worthless? (This writer cannot define the value of marriage, because so many people view marriage differently)

    12. Marriage: Do I Need It? (This writer is open to the idea of marriage, but not committed to it)

    13. Marriage: It’s for sum. (This writer isn’t deciding on marriage until she is older)

    14. Marriage: Soul Mate Wanted (A person should marry their soul mate)

    Last Words:  We could not list all of the essays submitted for this contest, but we thank every student that participated in the conversation about marriage.  To enter the current Stage of Life monthly writing contest for high school students and college students:

     

    Stage of Life - Student Writing Contest Press Release

    55% of Teenagers View Marriage Positively - Which Means Many Don't

    YORK, Pa., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the wedding season kicking off in mid-spring,StageofLife.com—a resource and  blogging website for high school students, Baby Boomers, and every life stage in between—asked its teen and college visitors, "What is the value of marriage?" This question is part of StageofLife.com's ongoing monthlyblogging contest series.

    (Logo: https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100929/DC73342LOGO)

    Over 4,520 students from all 50 US states visited the marriage writing contest page.  From those who submitted a blog entry to StageofLife.com on the topic, 55% of the teenagers shared a positive view about marriage, 28% had a negative view, and 17% took a neutral, unbiased, or more academic approach.  In less than 30 days, over 41,500 words were uploaded to StageofLife.com as students shared their opinions and feelings about marriage.

    The winning college student essay, You're Stuck With Me, came from Kaleigh Somers, a Creative Writing minor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA.  When asked why she submitted an essay, Somers explained, "As soon as I read the contest description, I had this strong visceral reaction to it. I knew that I wanted to remind people that college students haven't lost sight in marriage. Some of us, myself included, still believe in the sanctity of marriage. Writing it out was the best method to express that."

    Outside of the positive or negative emotional reaction, five common themes/trends about marriage emerged from the scores of essays written by high school and college students:

    1.  Religion:  Students used religion—mostly Christianity—to describe the importance of the sacrament of matrimony.  However, some students took an anti-religious tone.  

    York College of Pennsylvania junior Michelle Pease confessed in her essay, A Word, "I don't care much for the religious undertones in the word marriage. Words don't belong to certain groups of people, and so there is no reason for the religious to "triumph" the non-religious in the gay marriage debate."

    2.  Parents:  Students' parents' marriages affected how these students viewed marriage.  If the parents' marriage was successful, then the student viewed marriage positively; if not, then the students often resented marriage.  

    StageofLife.com blogger purpleoveralls broke away from this trend in the winning high school essay, Let me keep my childhood dream.  She wrote, "I know from personal experience the effect divorce has on children, and I would never put my own child through that misery. But instead of giving up on marriage...I will take the risk because I'm a fighter. I will get married, stay married, and raise my children with the one thing I lacked: the assurance that yes, marriages do last."

    3. Marriage definitions:  Most students summed up marriage using the same, or similar, words—that marriage involves both love and commitment.  These two values were also detrimental in defining a successful marriage.  

    High school contest finalist luvsleepcandy wrote in her essay, Key to Success, "Ever since I've been able to hold comprehensible conversations, my mom has drilled into my head: 'Don't ever rush into marriage. A good marriage ALWAYS needs a strong foundation, and it can't be built entirely on love alone. Successful marriages can only happen when a couple is compatible; the husband and wife's personalities balance each other out.'"

    4. Reality strikes:  Many students wrote about the "reality" of marriage as much as they wrote about the idealism and romanticism of marriage. These students understand the commitment involved in marriage.  Not one student wrote about the positivity of divorce.  

    Maddie Ann Cramer, a 10th grader in the International Baccalaureate program at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, CO, busted Disney's bubble in her essay, Stay Strong, when she wrote, "When picturing marriage, every little girl imagines the sensational Cinderella reunited with the glittery, but obviously uncomfortable glass slipper. She is gliding down the palace steps, arm in arm with the preppiest prince the kingdom had ever seen. She is escorted into a bedazzled carriage that disappears into the sunset with a staged kiss. But the little girl does not know that as soon as the curtain falls, Cinderella pushes our Preppy Prince off, wipes her lips, and demands to know why his breath smells like rotten tuna."

    5.  Marriage is Serious:  The majority of the essays submitted all revolved around one common thread: marriage is serious.  

    Dozens of students echoed one student's thoughts: Desiree van Arkens, a graduate from Horizon Honors High School, wrote in her essay, I Gotta Watch You Get Old?, "The value of marriage is decreasing rapidly in society today unfortunately, but if everyone knew the deeper meaning of marriage, I believe more couples would remain married."

    StageofLife.com organized a summary page from its findings on the "Value of Marriage" writing contest, which features links to more than 80 of the teen StageofLife.com essays on marriage at http://www.stageoflife.com/marriage.aspx.  

    For the March writing contest, StageofLife.com asks its student bloggers, "What form of media impacts your life the most, and why?"  Students have until Midnight (PDT) on March 31, 2011 to submit their 500 word essay.  Winners receive a gift card or cash prizes from national sponsors, along with swag from StageofLife.com.

    Previous StageofLife.com teen writing prompts addressed topics such as teens and stress, teens and money, teens and heros, teens and education, and more.

    About Stage of Life®:  StageofLife.com is a free, non-partisan, grassroots online community that hosts blogs, information, and resources for teens, Millennials/Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomer generations.  Its specialized content allows users to share and archive their life stories. StageofLife.com includes free lesson plans and writing prompts for Language Arts teachers, monthly writing contests for high school students and college students, blogging resources, a platform that helps people promote their blogs, teen white papers, custom news feeds for each stage of life, and My Life Rewards, an area dedicated to providing relevant coupons and discounts exclusively geared towards each stage of life.

    If you'd like more information about StageofLife.com or an interview with CEO/Founder Eric Thiegs, please call (717) 244-0006, or use the Contact Us form on the website.  You may also contact PR/Marketing Coordinator Megan Colyer at (717) 654-9554 or megan.colyer(at)stageoflife.com.

    SOURCE StageofLife.com

    Past Student Writing Contests

     May 2013 national student writing contest

    May 2013 national writing contest for students

    May 2013 National Writing Contest:  Share a Special Memory of Your Mom, Grandmother, or Important Woman in Your Life?


    Writing Contest Details:  It's May, and we're honoring Moms and Grandmothers this month.  So we're asking students to take ten minutes to respond to our writing prompt: "Share a Special Memory of Your Mother or Grandmother." 

    Simple.  Yet Powerful. 

    We want to hear a special memory about an important woman in your life.  Get details and enter the FREE Stage of Life national writing contest to share your voice with the world...

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    Writing Contest for Teens on StageofLife.com 

    April 2013 National Writing Contest:  What Current National or International News Story Do You Think More Teens and College Students Should Care About, and Why?


    Writing Contest Details:  There is a LOT going on in the news.  For instance, the day we posted this April 2013 monthly writing contest, we saw headlines for news stories on the following topics...

    Nuclear armed North Korea's aggressive militaristic talk, North Dakota passes most restrictive abortion bill in US history, US Supreme Court debates gay marriage, Cyprus Banks and Economic issues in the Euro Zone, Pope includes women for first time in Holy Thursday rite, US Senate group resolves key immigration issues to move ahead with overhaul of US immigration policy, China's losing battle against polluters, Obama makes impassioned plea for gun control legislation, NCAA Basketball Tournament enters Final 4, Obamacare...and many others.

    Keeping these news headlines (and others you may have recently read, seen, or heard in mind), our question this month was..."What current news story or event should teens and college students care about...and why?"
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    Writing Contest for Teens - StageofLife.com 

    March 2013 National Writing Contest:  When have you applied the phrase "No Fear" in your life?


    Writing Contest Details:  Every teenager or college students has fears.  Some are things you can touch, like snakes.  Some are situations you want to avoid, like public speaking or test taking.  Some come from childhood stories, like ghosts or monsters.  And some fears are things that unfortunately find us, like terrorism, natural disasters, or cancer.  

    However, we can't live in the shadows of our fears everyday.  To do so would dishonor the act of living.

    So this month, the Stage of Life national writing contest prompt is simple:  "As a teen or college student, how have you applied the phrase "No Fear" in your life?"

    Teens and Fear - StageofLife.com student writing contest
     
     Student Writing Contest - Favorite TV Shows February 2013 National Writing Contest:  Why Can't You Turn Away From Your Favorite TV Show?

    Writing Contest Details:  It's winter, and we're in the middle of a new season of TV programming (as most of you know who have been fervently waiting for your favorite shows to begin again).

    For good or bad, people everywhere are spending more time indoors right now, plopped down in front of the warm glow of their favorite television shows.  Glee.  Breaking Bad.  Mad Men.  The Bachelor.  The Super Bowl.  American Idol.  Boardwalk Empire.  Nashville.  Survivor.  Downton Abby.  Homeland.  Modern Family.  And the list goes on.

    Whether you love Golden Globe nominated TV programming found on the cable channels or the popular reality TV series found on all of the major networks, we want to know what one TV show makes you stop in your tracks, put on your cozy clothes, and jump up on the couch for 30-60 minutes of "me" time.

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    Gun Rights vs. Gun Control - Where do we go after Newtown? 

    January 2013 National Writing Contest:  Where do we go after Newtown?

    Writing Contest Details: What solutions, if any, would you propose to Congress, parents, school officials, gun advocacy groups, or the NRA after the tragic event in Newtown this last December? 

    Or, on a more emotional level, how do you simply feel about this event and what changes, if any, did it make in you?

    And for everyone...where do we go from here??

    View our Writing Contest Summary on Teens and Guns.
    Teens and Guns - StageofLife.com student writing contest
     
    Teens and Body Image
     

    December 2012 Writing Contest:  How will you be the change in 2013?


    Writing Contest Details:  In looking towards 2013, we want to hear how you will "be the change." This open-ended writing contest question can be addressed in a 500-word essay in one of three ways:

    1.  On a philosophical level, what needs to be changed in 2013 in your community, city, state, country or the world?

    2.  Or...on a personal level, what will you do to make a change in yourself in 2013?

    3.  Or...how have you already helped change the world and how can you spread your message to others in 2013?

    As a part of this month's topic, we're also asking teens in our national survey how they feel about one very important "change" topic...body image.

    View Summary Report:  Teens and Body Image - Be the Change

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Body Image
     
     

    November 2012 Writing Contest:  What was the most inspirational or important book you've ever read?

    Writing Contest Details:  After years of asking teens to submit personal, inspirational essays about everything from their favorite songs to their favorite movies, surprisingly, we never asked students to write an essay about their favorite book.

    For those of you familiar with StageofLife.com, you know we're one of the nation's leading digital literacy initiatives.  So it's about time we celebrate one of the foundations of literacy itself... books!

    We're asking high school and college students to share a 500 word essay about their favorite book and how and why it made an impact on their life.

    View Summary Report:  Teens and Books

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens, Books and Literacy
     
     StageofLife.com student writing contest - Sports and Family

    October 2012:  SPORTS & FAMILY - How have sports positively (or negatively) shaped traditions in your family?

    Writing Contest Details:  The month of October is rife with professional sports.  The World Series is played this month, along with college football, NFL football, NASCAR and NHL hockey seasons all being in full swing...not to mention the NBA basketball season starting too.

    This led us to wonder how sports (American or International) play a role in forming family traditions (positively or negatively), so we're asking high school and college students to share a 500 word essay about the impact of sports as it relates to their family traditions.

    View Summary Report:  Teens and Sports

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Sports
     
    Political essay teen writing contest - StageofLife.com

    September 2012:  POLITICS & PASSION - Share a story about what one political issue is most important to you in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election.

    Writing Contest Details:  With the U.S. presidential election coming up in November, our student writing contest this month asks teens and college students to share a personal essay on the current state of the union, and in particular, what one issue is the most important topic for you in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election.

    We call this important issue your "passion issue."

    Other components of the writing prompt also ask you to share if your parents' political viewpoints have made an impact on yours and which Presidential Candidate is best suited to make the lives of teens and college students better over the next four years.

    View Summary Report:  Teens and Politics

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Politics
     
    Stage of Life writing contest - teens and music 

    July & August 2012:  MUSIC - Share a story of a song that played an important role during a unique time in your life.

    Writing Contest Details:  Music plays an integral role in our lives.  There was the song that was playing in the background during that last slow dance on your first prom.  The song you listened to over and over after your first break-up.  Or the song you and your friends belted out at the top of your lungs one summer night around a campfire.

    We all have stories tied to songs that have become a part of who we are, thanks to those songs playing in the background during key moments and milestones of our lives.

    For our July and August writing contest, we want you to share a 300-500 word essay about how a particular song impacted you during an important time in your life.

    View Summary Report:  Teens and Music

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Music
     
     

    June 2012:  NATURE - How has nature inspired you?

    Writing Contest Details:  With summer upon us, students will find themselves out of school...and outside!  Or...will they?

    According to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, today's children (and adults) are deprived of a basic necessity we have as humans...to connect with the outdoors.  Louv labels this phenomenon (that many saw happening but couldn't quite articulate): "nature-deficit disorder."

    Between jobs, Facebook, online gaming, or bad weather, many teens will forgo opportunities to feel the grass beneath their toes, to breath in a summer breeze, to let sun touch their skin, and to otherwise connect with the planet around them.

    But we know that can't be the case for everyone...can it?  Are we all experiencing nature-deficit?

    How has nature inspired you?

    View Summary Report:      Teens and Nature

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Nature
     
     National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month May 2012:  TEEN PREGNANCY - What do you attribute to the decline of teen pregnancies?

    Writing Contest Details:  According to the latest teen pregnancy statistics from the CDC, U.S. teen birth rates are at an all time low.  But the last report still showed a total of 367,752 babies were born to teen girls aged 15–19.  In honor of May being National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we want to hear from teens and college students about why they think teen pregnancies are dropping.

    What's the reason?  What's happening at your school or with your friends or in your community

    VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  Teen Pregnancy Prevention

    StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teen Pregnancy Prevention

     
     High School Writing Contest  

    April 2012:  MOVIES - What movie has made the biggest difference in your life?

    Writing Contest Details:  In honor of the hottest student movie ticket in town right now, "The Hunger Games" (based off the YA fiction novel of the same title by Suzanne Collins), we wanted to find out what films speak to teens and college students.

    Which movies inspire you? 

    VIEW SUMMARY REPORT: Teens and Movies

    Teen Trends: Movies
     
     Poetry Writing Contest

    March 2012:  POETRY - Dedicate a Poem to Someone Who Matters

    Writing Contest Details: In preparation for April’s National Poetry Writing Month, we are asking teens and college students to write a poem in dedication to someone who matters in their life.  Whether it is a family member, friend, teacher, celebrity or kind stranger, write an original poem about what that person means to you. 

    VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  Teen Poems

    Teen Trends: Poetry
     
    Love Writing Contest 

    February 2012:  LOVE - What's Your Definition of Love?

      Writing Contest Details:  Teens and college students find themselves in an on-going dance as they court, woo, avoid, or try to win the romantic affections or attention of someone they like, admire...love.

      Consider these famous quotes about love...

      • "If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else. If you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have" --James M Barrie
      • "All we need is love."  --John Lennon
      • "Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable."  --Henry Ward Beecher
      • "Love is like pi -- natural, irrational, and very important." --Lisa Hoffman
      • "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.   I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."  --Judy Garland
      • "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."  --Albert Einstein
      • "If you can't be with one you love, love the one you're with."  --Stephen Stills

      It goes without saying that love can be either the happiest emotion or most tragic.  Just look at your parents.  Your grandparents.  Romeo and Juliet.  Or Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.  From happy to tragic to absurd, love runs the gamut.  But these platitudes are all relative, because love will always be different for everyone.  How can we pin down a definition of love?

      VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens think of love...

      Teen Trends: Love
       
      Person to Watch Writing Contest 

      January 2012:  Person to Watch in 2012?

        Writing Contest Details:  Last month, TIME magazine named "The Protestor" their Person of the Year for 2011.  That got us thinking...okay, but who is the person to watch in 2012? 

        So, in looking back at the last 12 months and considering the future, who would you nominate as the Person to Watch for 2012, and why? 

        Whether it's a celebrity, an innovator, a politician, a cultural icon, an up-and-coming artist, a rising star or someone more personal in your life, we want to hear, in 500 words or less, who your Person to Watch for 2012 would be.

        VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens chose as the Person to Watch in 2012

        Teen Trends: 2012 Person to Watch
         
         High School Writing Contest

        November & December 2011: AWARENESS - What issue or cause should receive its own "awareness" month?

        • "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” -Winston Churchill
        • “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
        • “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mohatma Ghandi

          Details:  We saw NFL players wearing pink throughout October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  We will pay tribute to the role of African-Americans throughout February during Black History month.  Now think about the topics on which you're passionate, and share your thoughts on a single issue or cause that should receive its own awareness month. 

          In your essay, please creatively tell us...

          • Is this a local, regional, national, international or planetary issue?
          • Why is this issue important?
          • Who does the issue impact?
          • How could the message be spread?
          • Are there any organizations, companies or blogs currently trying to make a difference to increase awareness on this issue?

          VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about awareness

          Teen Trends: Awareness Issues
           
           High School Writing Contest

          October 2011:  TRUST & SAFETY - Do you trust our institutions to keep us safe?

            Details: As we look ahead to Halloween, there are scarier things than ghosts and goblins in the lives of today's teenagers and college students. 

            For instance, from a historical perspective, Baby Boomers grew up living under the threat of nuclear Armageddon, complete with classroom drills to hide under their desks in the case of nuclear attack.  However, today's teenagers and college students have been growing up in their own unique time: 

            • The threat of internet predators, cyber-bullying, and other online dangers.
            • The threat of school shootings and lock-downs.
            • The threat of terrorism.

            How do you, as a student, feel about these threats, and do you have trust in your parents, school or government (the major institutions around you) to keep you safe?

            VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about trust and safety

            Teen Trends: Trust & Safetey
             
             High School Writing Contest

            September 2011:  EDUCATION - Teacher Appreciation essays

              Details:  It's the big back in school month.  You're either loving it, hating it, or experiencing a mixture of both.   In fact, some of you may already be waiting for final bell to ring (even if it's only 9:45am).  However, no matter how this year is starting out (good or bad), we know that there have been certain teachers and classes in the past that stand out in your mind...

              This month, think back to a favorite class or educator (teacher/coach/director/principal).  Whether it was their attitude, the way they taught, or a life lesson you learned from their class/sport/activity, how did this person make a positive impact in your life?

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about their teachers.

              Teen Trends: Teacher Appreciation
               
               

              August 2011:  SELF-REFLECTION - Letter to Me

                Details:  We want you to write a letter to yourself.  Yes, you heard us...a letter to yourself.  Take 15 minutes, alone, and spend some time thinking about the upcoming school year.  Think about the things you want to accomplish.  The things you fear.  Think about where you've been and where you're going.  Think about how your summer has been going.   What are you looking forward to?  What are you dreading about the return to school?  Think about your goals.  Think about if you're looking to make a big change this year...or simply survive? 

                After all of that thinking, now write a "Letter to Me."  This is a letter addressed to yourself.  Tackle some of the topics we've outlined above...or get creative and come up with your own original angle for the letter.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens had to write to themselves in our "Letter Me" writing prompt

                Teen Trends: Letter to Me
                 
                 

                July 2011:  BULLYING - Have you ever been bullied, teased, or picked on? If so, about what?

                Details: Whatever you want to call it, bullying is a problem in many schools and continues to be a hot topic in the national press.  We've know many students experienced some form of bullying during high school.

                Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to share their stories about being bullied or about being the bully. The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

                Were you once a bully who regrets it now?  Share your experiences with us and help prevent students from bullying others.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens shared about being bullied.

                Teen Trends: Bullying
                 
                 Teen Trends - Parent Interview Writing Contest

                June 2011:  PARENTS - What is one thing you don't know about your Mother or Father?

                Teen Trends:  How well do teens really know their parents?

                Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to interview their parents and ask them to share ONE thing about themselves their son/daughter doesn't already know.  The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

                Did you learn something that shaped the way you think about your parent?  We call this contest the "Parent Paradigm Shift."
                 

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens learned about their parents...

                Teen Trends: Parent Relationships
                 

                May 2011:  OBSTACLES - What was the most difficult thing you overcame this school year?

                Teen Trends:  What major obstacles stood in the way this school year?

                From friends to family to graduation to grades to self esteem, teens go through a lot in a school year.  Tell us about one area or experience that caused you the most trouble, but that you were eventually able to overcome.

                Help inspire another high school student to gain some courage to tackle or navigate their problem by sharing your experience.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what challenges teenagers face today...  

                Teen Trends: Challenges
                 
                 Teen Writing Contest about Prom

                April 2011:  PROM - Is prom a positive or negative teen tradition?

                Teen Trends: How do teens feel about prom?

                Going to prom is a high school milestone, and prom traditions have been around for decades.  Dresses.  Dinner. DJ's.  Dancing.  For most teenagers, it's about celebrating life with friends and/or a significant other.  However, we've all heard the "negative" aspects often associated with prom too.  Drinking.  Drugs.  DUI's.  Damaged self-esteem.  Date rape.  So we want to know - is prom a positive or negative milestone.  

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about prom...

                Teen Trends: Prom
                 
                Teen Trends and the Media

                March 2011:  MEDIA - What form of media impacts your life the most, and why?

                Teen Trends: How do teens feel about the media?

                The "media" is an undeniably powerful entity in our daily lives, and even more invasive for teens and college students, a generation growing up with more forms of media choices than any other generation before them.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about the media...

                Teen Trends: Media
                 
                Writing Contest for Teens about Marriage

                February 2011:  MARRIAGE - What is the value of marriage?

                Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about marriage?

                This contest came out in February 2011.  The month of love.  Valentine's Day sits right in the middle of this month and helps (or in some cases forces) all of us to pay homage to the idea of romance...love. We got little controversial this month and asked teens to share their point of view on marriage.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about marriage...
                 
                Writing Contest for Teens about Making the World a Better Place

                January 2011:  MAKE A DIFFERENCE - What organization, company, non-profit or 'cause' will help make the world a better place?

                Teen Trends:  How do teens want to better the world?

                Our mission on StageofLife.com is to help change the world, one story at a time.  What a better way to do that than to ask teens and college students about worthwhile causes we should all know about.  This was an opportunity for teens to shed light and share with us their favorite non-profit, company, organization or 'cause' that could help make the world a better place.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about making the world a better place...
                 
                Writing Contest for High School Students about Money

                December 2010:  MONEY - What is your relationship with money?  How do you spend (or save)...and why?

                Teen Trends: How do teens feel about money?

                Money....Cash.  Coin.  Greenbacks.  Pesos.  Gravy.  Deniro.  KaChing.  Moola.  So we're curious...how do teens and college students feel about money?  Whether the student knew a homeless teen or has a friend living in the penthouse, we wanted to know about their relationship with the almighty dollar.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about money...

                Teen Trends: Money
                 
                Writing Contest for Teenagers

                November 2010:  GIVING THANKS - What are you most thankful for?

                Teen Trends: What are teens grateful for?

                This writing contest rolled out in November 2010.  We all get busy during the day-to-day routine of our lives, but it's important to stop once in while and reflect on what matters most, and to give thanks for that.  Keeping that in mind, we wanted to hear from teens about who or what, in their lives right now, should receive public acknowledgment of their thanks.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See for who and what teens are thankful...

                Teen Trends: Thanksgiving
                 
                Writing Contest about Stress and Teens

                October 2010: TEEN STRESS -  What stresses you out, and how do you cope with that stress?

                Teen Trends: How do students deal with stress?

                From classes to homework to jobs to extra curricular activities to social outings, teens and college students are maintaining hectic schedules.  Add on top of that any current relationship hardships, social issues, e.g. bullying, illnesses or other personal problems and it's not surprising that many young people feel...stressed.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens deal with stress...

                Teens and Stress

                .
                 
                Who Is Your Hero?

                September 2010:  HEROES - Who is your hero?

                Teen Trends:  Who would a teenager name as their hero?

                We wanted to talk about heroes, both big and small, with high school and college students.  We asked teens to name their hero, it could be a family member, someone famous, or an everyday person in their lives who is quietly making a difference, and then write a 500 word essay about that hero.  You'll love these responses.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens nominated as their heroes...

                Teen Heroes
                 
                How Would Teens Improve Education?

                August 2010: EDUCATION - What suggestion(s) do you have to make a positive change at your school or with the educational system as a whole?

                Teen Trends: How would teens improve education?

                We wanted to know how students were perceiving their educations, educational environments at their high schools, colleges and universities and the overall trends in education.  We asked the teens for ideas on how to improve the educational environment.

                VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens would improve the educational system...

                Teens and Education
                 
                 Writing Contest for Teens about Food

                July 2010: FOOD - Do we have an obligation to take better care of ourselves by making changes in the way we eat and/or buy and consume food?

                Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition?

                TV shows like NBC's Biggest Loser are big hits and books like Michael Pollan's Food Rules are flying off the shelves.  Even film documentaries like Food, Inc. and Super Size Me have pushed into the mainstream consciousness.  It goes without saying a tipping point is occurring in our society's awareness in regards to people's relationship with food.  Obesity in America is reaching an epidemic...but are people ready or really willing to change?  Is our addiction to unhealthy food too hard to break?

                See how teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]
                 
                 Writing Contest for High School Students about College

                June 2010: COLLEGE - What is the most difficult thing (for you) about college?

                Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about college?

                We want to know what's making the college process or college itself difficult and why.  Financial aid?  Application process?  Juggling classes and work? What is making college difficult?  This contest was held in partnership with "Take America to College" initiative.

                See how teens feel about college...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]
                 
                 Writing Contest for Teens about the Environment

                May 2010: ENVIRONMENT - What is one behavior you can either change or incorporate into your daily life that will reduce our negative impact on the environment?

                Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about the environment?

                The negative environmental impact and tragedy of lives lost from the BP off-shore oil rig disaster was obvious.  What we wanted from our high school and college students entering this month's writing contest was not their outrage about how this could have happened, but rather, share one solution (big or small) that can help combat man's ever-reaching environmental impact.

                See how teens feel about helping the environment...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

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                StageofLife.com is an education-based, grassroots, non-partisan, free blogging community with a mission support digital literacy by making the world a better place, one story, essay and blog at a time.  Stage of Life users (teens, college students, Millennials, Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomers) can share and archive their life stories via their Stage of Life profile page and specialized content includes digital literacy resources, lesson plans and writing prompts for Language Arts teachers and other writing educators, monthly writing contests for high school students and older generations, student blogging initiatives, blog directories, and financial literacy tools, including Life Rewards® - a free discount program for all Stage of Life users, readers and writers dedicated to providing printable coupons and coupon codes tailored towards each stage of life.

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