TEENAGE KICKS by Abbi Wynsome, Year 11 pupil at Duffryn High School, Newport

IT IS the time of year that every teenager dreads: exam season. Not long after Christmas, almost every student aged 15 and 16 will be facing their GCSEs, which mark the very start of our future.

It consists of months full of pressure and constant revision for the exams ahead. Every student wants to achieve to the best of their ability, to feel they have done everything they can when results day rolls around, calling on all their reserves of inner resilience they need to get the top results.

But how much pressure is too much pressure for young people today? And how, when things are harder than ever for today’s teens, can the media still enforce the stereotypical view of teenage behaviour?

The media present us as reckless, wild, party animals that take no responsibility for our future. You only have to open a newspaper or turn on one of the endless reality TV programmes featuring 16 to 24-year-olds.

However, the fact of the matter is, we are constantly worrying about our exams, coursework, controlled assessments and when we can fit revision in. Within two months of this term beginning - the first term of Year 11 - there will be mocks, there have already been controlled assessments, coursework and after-school revision.

Despite improvements in technology, results and resources, today’s teenagers have fewer opportunities than they did 20 years ago. This is due to there being far fewer jobs available throughout Britain and fewer options for teenagers.

At least in Wales, we are able to finish school at the age of 16. However, in England students have to retake GCSEs until they gain a C-grade in English and Maths until the age of 18. This keeps the continuous pressure of success going well into adulthood.

A recent study showed it is a proven fact that eight out of 10 students believe success is important, no matter what the cost and that it does not improve once someone gets out of the school and into the work place.

As well as the continuous pressure of proving the media’s views wrong, parents and society apply a constant pressure on students too.

From a personal point of view, I am always being pressured and persuaded to do better than older family members have. The truth is, society’s perception of teenage behaviour doesn’t tally with the reality of being a teenager that wants to do well.

I believe the focus needs to be on young pupils' opportunities as they are the ones that control the future. What isn’t noticed that is every year results increase as the number of the number of jobs decrease. Is the improvement in results due to exams getting easier (as the press would have you believe every summer) or students working harder to prove themselves to the world?

Years ago, students had many opportunities to get the fullest of their potential in results. However, in this era, with tightened up exams and ever increasing competition, there is one chance to construct your future.

Next time you feel like you want to criticise the younger generation, reflect on how society is now with the older generation in control. In October 2005 (not even a generation ago) unemployment was less than two per cent in Wales. In September 2013 unemployment was more than 7.9 per cent.

So have sympathy for today’s teens. The future maybe isn’t as bright as you think.