working with people who have children in this age range - middle to high school has vastly opened my eyes to how our world is changing ... FAST! I often think of myself not that far removed from my teens at 30, but it amazes me that now as freshmen these CHILDREN are being forced to choose a career by applying to educational academies within the school system to help direct and prepare them for their college applications and degrees. They are volunteering in the public as a part of them academies and learning at a young age how to appear professional and capable is so important. A girl walking into a hospital as part of a biomedical academy is going to be judged based on how she dresses, acts, carries herself, etc. It's in her best interest to impress... to me its sad these CHILDREN are being faced with some rather mature decisions at young ages, but it seems the way of our society. If we can trust them to make decisions about their LIFE at 13, I think we should expect them to act/dress in a fashion that supports those decisions too...

I often shake my head and think how stressful it must be to be a parent or a CHILD in today's world.