Teen Runaways

Each year, according to the Poly Klaas foundation, 7% of teenagers run away, or attempt to run away from home. That’s 1 out of every 7 teenagers. A lot of those times, there is a significant reason for these teens to feel unwelcome at home and they decide to leave on their own, whether they are ready or not. Then, there are the teens that run away to be in the drug world or because they don’t get their way with their parents. Either way, these kids don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.

I feel that these teens that are in broken homes, just want to have a break from the hardship they deal with every day. And that causes them to make the sudden decision to run away. 47% of runaway youth report conflict between them and a parent/ guardian at home. Over 50% of youth in shelters or on the streets reported that their parents told them to leave, or didn’t care when their kids told them they were leaving. Parental neglect is the main cause of corrupt teenagers. These kids don’t have a parent to discipline them so they run away, introduce themselves to drugs, prostitution, gang-related violence and other scary things. They end up in prison or rehabilitation centers, because of lack of love and discipline.

80% of runaway and homeless females reported having been sexually or physically abused. 37% of these females actually try to prosecute their offender in court. 12% of them actually win the case and the offender goes to prison. The other 25% lose the case and the offender can easily attack them again. 32% of runaway youths have reportedly tried to commit suicide after running away. Today’s society is ugly, and hard for teenagers. Not all teenagers are bad, though. Some of them are out working to support their families, whether it be their parents, or children of their own. A lot of times, when teens’ runaway, they return home pregnant, and try to change their lives for the better. They’re not always successful, but at least they try. The babies that are in foster care, almost all of them are from teenage moms that can’t financially support them, or they are taken from the moms because of drugs or abuse.

My personal opinion on the matter, the teenagers that run away from home to party, need to go back home. The “party life” doesn’t last. Go home. Get your life together. Go back to school, and finish it. The teens that run away because of physical, mental, or sexual abuse, don’t just run from it. You have a voice. Tell somebody, get help. There is support systems out there that can help you. The pregnant teens, get your life together if you haven’t already. That baby will be your blessing. Don’t raise it to have a bad life like you did. Raise it with unconditional love, and teach it respect. Stay in school, get a job, and stay on track. All teenagers that run away, make sure you have a reasonable reason to run. It’s not always as bad as you may think it is.