High Life / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Will Future Be the Best--or Worst--of All Worlds?

Stereotyped as having no concern for the world today--except when watching world premiere videos on MTV--today’s teen-agers aren’t given much credit in the area of current events.

Hot Topics asks, “Do you think the world will be a better or a worse place 100 years from now?”

“It depends on how we start handling things now. People have the ability to make it better, but it’s just whether we take advantage of the opportunity.”

Heather Nicolson, 16

junior, Orange

“I think it’s going to be a worse place because we have too many problems--violence, racism--that aren’t being solved.”

Monica Arreola, 16

junior, Century

“Better because everyone is more aware of the environment.”

Jennifer Brennan, 14,

freshman, Katella

“Worse. Everybody’s trying to make it better, but they aren’t going to.”

Stephanie Rudat, 15,

sophomore, Canyon

“Worse because they’re still polluting it and nobody’s doing a thing about it.”

Sarah Snitko, 15,

sophomore, Canyon

“Better because there will be more technology.”

Dean Schmaus, 15,

junior, Orange

“Worse because of the ozone layer and because they cut down too many trees.”

Kino Suarez, 16,

junior, Orange

“Worse because it gets worse every year.”

Summer Insley, 16,

junior, San Clemente

“I guess better. People are realizing we have to change the way the world is now.”

Heather Pierce, 16,

junior, San Clemente

“Worse. Basically everything is being destroyed by humans, mostly wildlife.”

Mario Valenzuela, 15,

junior, Saddleback

“Probably worse. The crime rate is getting really bad, and so is the environment.”

Oscar Valenzuela, 17,

senior, Saddleback

“Worse because of poverty and the environment.”

Isaac Gonzalez, 16,

junior, Saddleback

“Probably better because we’re so world-conscious, like how we recycle.”

Heidi Schiesser, 16,

junior, Canyon

“Worse because I won’t be living in the world.”

Ben Garcia, 16,

junior, Katella

“Worse because it just seems like it is getting worse. People are more materialistic.”

Sarita Peng, 15,

sophomore, Foothill

“It would be worse in economic ways because the places that are used to grow crops are being taken down to build houses.”

Mei mei Peng, 13,

freshman, Foothill

“Worse because off all the pollution and the ozone depletion. Prejudice is going to come up, and everyone’s going to hate each other.”

Byron Nunn, 16,

junior, Irvine

“Worse. Gangs and everything else are just going to take over.”

Samuel Saldivar, 16,

junior, Irvine

“Worse because there’s going to be more technology, and that means the forests will be destroyed. There’s not going to be anything left.”

Tommy Park, 16,

junior, Irvine

“I guess it would be better because of technology. We wouldn’t have to do anything.”

Lehua Prietto, 14,

freshman, Mater Dei

“Worse because of technology we will be lazy. We won’t have anything to do.”

Julie Pearson, 14

freshman, Mater Dei

“Worse because of the population.”

Kelly Olsen, 16,

sophomore, Mater Dei

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What summer trend has stayed alive through the beginning of the school year?

Responses gathered by Betsy Burbridge at MainPlace/Santa Ana.