Something needs to be done about teenagers getting in trouble with drugs and alcohol. Many teenagers involved in this lifestyle claim they do it because there’s nothing better to do in this town. If we can help out with this issue, why don’t’ we?

If you look at Albert Lea, you may notice our not-so-great lake. This gives teenagers one thing they can’t occupy their time with. It’s not that they can’t swim in our lake, but it’s just not the safest place to be. Another thing is our Northbridge Mall. It’s filled with a majority of not-very-teenage stores, and you rarely see big crowds there. For those of you who still may not get the picture, here’s another example: Not all teenagers have a religion or share the same one, so church-based hangouts aren’t always the solution.

Some solutions to those problems could be simple if we try. It may not be the cheapest thing to do, but healthwise, we should clean our lake. As for the mall, we should be accommodating to all sorts of people and get a new variety of stores. As for the religious hangouts, teenagers don’t get the excited reaction you may be hoping for. So we should find, build or make places teenagers can be themselves, legally.

Instead of finding your children in jail when they grow up, let’s make a difference in their future. We need to understand that not everyone lives the same life, so decisions, especially the right ones, don’t always come easy. So let’s help out our children, grandchildren, cousins, sisters, brothers or whoever they are to you and make their futures better.

Tatiana Moise

Albert Lea High School

English class

Albert Lea