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Age discrimination

I turn eighteen tomorrow and I honestly feel like this is the one birthday that I will actually feel older. I am finally reaching adulthood and all the perks that come with it. Say hello to piercings, tattoos, lottery tickets, marriage, and the army. Even though legally I will be an adult, everyone is still going to look at me like a child.

There is such age discrimination among people. It really makes me angry that I can now join the army but I still have to raise my hand to ask to go to the bathroom. I can’t get a job anywhere besides retail or working in restaurants because I look too young.

In this world, a person has to look the part to get a job. Companies don’t want older models, despite their knowledge or experience, they want the young hard working types, but at the same time not too young.

In the job market, everyone comes with an expiration date and it’s scary to think that you can reach an age where you are rendered as useless.

Today youth is viewed as a gift and a curse. Through your early twenties you are viewed as too young, but then once you hit twenty-five you are considered in your prime for the job markets.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2016, workers age 65 and over are expected to account for 6.1 percent of the total workforce.

Just because someone is older does not make them incompetent. While other cultures view their elders with wisdom and inherent knowledge, America views them as useless.

Personally I think that it is really sad that our culture puts a negative stigma around age. Either you’re too young or you’re too old and when you finally reach your age you stay there for less than half your life.

I know that when I turn eighteen tomorrow, I will still have a curfew in my house, I will still have to raise my hand to go to the bathroom, I will be able to join the army, but I can’t get a respectable job.

Written by Speedy Gonzalez

Speedy is the Editor of the most entertaining section, the Entertainment section. Raised by wolves, he is always hungry for another taco. He plans on attending either Oxford College or Cambridge University. He aspires to be the first human to visit Saturn. His favorite meal is burritos and churros. He is a Senior.

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