Many teenagers are fans of famous singers or actors from Hong Kong or other countries. Some fans go to extremes and spend a lot of time and money following their idols wherever they go. Write an article for your school newsletter explaining why this happens. In the article, you should suggest two ways for teenagers to spend their leisure time and energy.
It is a well-known fact that quite a lot of teenagers nowadays are swept along by the aesthetically pleasing looks and gestures of the pop stars, with some going to extremes and spending a host of time and money in this issue. By and large, we, students, are no immune as we are part of the teenage group, having famous singers or actors as our idols.
The main reason contributing to the fad is that some teenagers are searching for their own role models. It is not uncommon to see some idol-followers imitate what their idols possess. This ranges from the brands they use, places they visit to even the haircut they have. As we, youngsters, are situating in a state called ‘identity and role confusion’, it is pretty normal for us to look for role models to emulate. Some teenage fans even wish to know more about their idols by following them wherever they go, being zealous to spend a huge sum of money to do so.
Another significant cause lies in peer influence. It is conspicuous that some youths can gain peer recognition if they favour the same idol. By joining various fan clubs, these youngsters can acquire a sense of belonging which is for the good for their interpersonal development as they will not feel isolated or lonely. As it is easy for teens to be influenced by their peers, they may simply follow an idol to enlarge their social circles and enrich their chitchat contents. Let us take our schoolmates as an example. Some groups of students are particularly fond of Japanese-Pop, Korean-Pop, and the like, with some being willing to spend hundreds to purchase their idol’s side products. This truly shows that peer influence can more or less give an impetus to following idols in teenage circles.
While it is natural to have a crush on idols, some have gone to extremes, leading to parents’ and teachers’ worries of them wasting too much time and money. In the light of that, we, teenagers should spend our leisure time and energy in other activities apart from solely following idols.
To commence with, joining outdoor extra-curricular activities is a good choice. In our school, the Scouts and the hiking club will certainly provide one with plentiful activities of outdoor and challenging exploration which will give you a great sense of satisfaction. Over time, one may discover his or her real interests and eventually unleash their potential in a particular field. Teens will surely be supported by their friends and well establish a sense of belonging in this small community. Not only can they spend extra time in joining the activities, but they can also be mentally and spiritually supported by peers.
Apart from taking part in outdoor extra-curricular activities, teenagers can participate in certain community services. To be specific, the Community Youth Club (CYC) is a case in point, giving wholly new insights to students who wish to serve the community. One can equip themselves with more practical and handy soft skills, such as interpersonal skills and leadership, which are all constructive in future workplace. To name a few, visiting the elderly homes and taking part in the Oxfam Hunger Lunch are some activities provided by our school early this month. Those who have joined them must have tasted the wonder of ‘more blessed to give than to receive’. Not digging too deep in following idols, we can actually spare extra time to gain more intangible knowledge to see the world with a more mature perspective. Hardly can one deny that it is not good to blindly follow an idol in the long term when compared to the above activities.
In a word, it is surely not a fault to be passionate about stars. Yet, the problem arises when too much time is devoted to following an idol, disrupting normal daily routines and even school work. We, as students, should place more emphasis on broadening our horizons and building our own characters. Only then can we embrace individuality and manifest what teens should show. Let us stay wise!
Ronald Tsang Yui Long
6E 2015-16