High Life: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Cars . . . Cash . . . Freedom? How Do Your Parents Spoil You?
“When I was your age. . . .”
Every teen-ager has heard these words at one time or another, usually when his parent is about to deny him some modern pleasure. But most parents want to give their children the things they never had when they were growing up.
Hot Topics wonders: “How do your parents spoil you?”
“My parents spoil me by buying things, and I go anywhere I want.”
Khoi Nguyen, 18,
senior, Bethel Baptist
“They let me get away with a lot of little things.”
Joel McCutheon, 16,
junior, Bethel Baptist
“They gave me a car and paid for my insurance and gas.”
Matt Lasnier, 17,
junior, Dana Hills
“They pay for my horse.”
Erika Larson, 17,
senior, Dana Hills
“My parents are getting me a car when I’m 16.”
Kristen Link, 14,
freshman, Dana Hills
“They give me too much allowance.”
Chad McComb, 14,
freshman, Dana Hills
“They don’t lock me in the closet.”
Robin Baessler, 16,
senior, Dana Hills
“They feed me and they give me a house to live in.”
Eloise Brown, 17,
senior, Estancia
“They let me decide what I think is right and what is wrong.”
Rock Lee, 16,
senior, Estancia
“They pay the insurance on my car.”
Ben Ye, 17,
senior, Estancia
“By not giving me a curfew and letting me do whatever, within reason.”
Felina Danalith, 17,
senior, Estancia
“They give me a good supply of clothes.”
Jeremy Rader, 16,
junior, Heritage
“They gave me a really nice birthday present, and they let me do most anything I want.”
Ross Alloway, 15,
freshman, Heritage
“I get to go to the beach every weekend.”
Jose Edwards, 15,
freshman, Heritage
“They basically give me any material goods I want, such as a grand piano or a car, and in return for their financial support, I try my best in everything.”
Linda Shih, 17,
senior, Huntington Beach
“My parents don’t make me do chores, and they let me surf as much as I want, even sometimes when I shouldn’t. My mom also cooks me dinner every night, pays for my car insurance and lets me drive her car.”
Nea Post, 17,
senior, Huntington Beach
“My parents promised to give me a car and pay for my insurance as soon as I get my driver’s license.”
Cathy Hung, 16,
junior, Huntington Beach
“My parents have paid for my piano lessons since I was 4, and they still support me in it now.”
Joseph Levin, 15,
sophomore, Huntington Beach
“My parents don’t make me do chores. They usually let me have or do anything I want.”
Ari Strauss, 14,
freshman, Huntington Beach
“My parents are reasonable--not overly extravagant, but they do enjoy giving me things. They bought me my car and my car stereo. They give me lots of freedom.”
Ryan Yonago, 17,
senior, Ocean View
“My parents take me to nice, expensive restaurants, and let me feel what the good life is. They also give me freedom to do what I want and go anywhere I choose, within reason, of course.”
Brett Cohen, 17,
senior, Ocean View
“My parents try to give me the many things I want. My parents pay for my car, expensive clothes and my life style. They generally allow me to go anywhere I want, and when I can’t afford to pay for something, they try to help me out.”
Elliot Horvath, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“They don’t give me money, they don’t buy me clothes, they don’t ask, ‘How’s your day?’, they don’t help me with my homework. They give me freedom to do what I want and how, and they give me freedom to form my own opinions. They spoil me with independence.”
Tina Huynh, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“My parents don’t spoil me; they just are very generous parents. I only ask for one or two things for Christmas or my birthday, but they feel guilty about giving me just one thing. I usually get whatever I want, within reason. I haven’t gotten my red Porsche yet. . . . “
Brandy Loudon, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“Being that I’m involved in water polo and swimming, my parents pay for dances and other social events, since I don’t have time for a job.”
Mike Prahm, 17,
senior, Orange
“My mom makes my lunch. It gives me time in the morning to get ready.”
Betsy Burbridge, 16,
junior, Orange
“They bought me a wet suit and paid for half of my surf board, and they let me stay out and surf as long as I want after school.”
John Fairchild, 17,
senior, Orange
“They basically give me everything that I want. If something comes up that costs a lot of money, they always get it for me.”
Carrie Krause, 17,
senior, Orange
“I think I get to do a lot more than my brothers and sisters, especially with extracurricular activities.”
Sharla DaLeo, 14,
freshman, Orange
“I want to have fast food, and they let me.”
Kaiya Engelhard, 14,
freshman, Rosary
“When I ask to go to a concert, they’ll let me.”
Diana Cheng, 14,
freshman, Rosary
“They send me to Rosary.”
Nichole McCann, 16,
junior, Rosary
“They let me go out whenever I want to.”
Pia Gonzales, 16,
junior, Rosary
“They bought me a car, and every time I get in an accident, they fix it.”
Shirley Elliott, 16,
junior, Rosary
“My parents spoil me in that they are always willing to sacrifice their time and energy to support me in school and activities. I always have someone to fall back on.”
Donald Wong, 17,
senior, Servite
“My parents never spoil me materially, but they’ve always provided for me a stable environment and have given me the freedom to work and play at my own pace.”
Paul Chang, 17,
senior, Servite
“I don’t have to work for the things I get, and I get almost everything I want.”
Sunit Talapatra, 16,
junior, Servite
“They put most of the money down for my car.”
Ernie Trukner, 16,
senior, Servite
“They spoil me by giving me a private education.”
Othon Estrada, 16,
junior, Servite
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
If you could talk to anybody through a seance, who would you talk to and what would you ask them?
Hot Topic responses gathered by Roxane Dyrud (Bethel Baptist), Dana Wilshin (Dana Hills), Sydney Truong (Estancia), John Doney (Heritage), Jane Wey (Huntington Beach), Felice Wu (Ocean View), Jennifer Turner (Orange), Asra Hashmy (Rosary) and Justin Antonipillai (Servite).
