Then vs. Now
by Shantel Corliss
I may be only sixteen, but I can definitely tell today's difference of having fun than having fun thirty years ago. Today's fun to kids is a lot different from what kids did for fun thirty years ago. Now a days the things that kids or teens think is fun is going out every weekend and partying, under age drinking, and doing drugs. Most teens are in their rooms on their phones, not visiting with family or talking to their friends in person. Instead over Snapchat or Facetiming. Some kids do go outside and do things because some of them might live with their grandparents like me and they were raised differently. They raised me the same way they were raised. Kids thirty years ago went outside and did things with their families. They weren’t inside all the time watching TV or playing video games or on their phones.
I grew up in Lancaster, New Hampshire with my grandparents. I lived right across from Colonel Town, which was one of the best places to play as a kid. There are way more things to do in Lancaster now a days than when I was a kid. We would go to Colonel Town pool, and just hang out with friends. I was always the kid that was playing outside whether it was snowing, raining, or sun shining with my friends. We didn’t do a lot of the things that kids can do today, but I think that my generation had a lot more fun without all of this technology.
During the summer I would go across the street to Colonel Town and swim in that huge pool with my friends. I used to be able to go to the pool when my mom and sister went to work. I’d be splashing around in the pool, diving in, and jumping off the diving board. I will forever cherish the days where I got to go outside and play by myself without having to worry about all the creeps. Now a days you can’t really send your kid anywhere by themselves because of the way society is today.
During the winter I used to play outside in the snow all the time all day with my friends. We would build snowmen, have snowball fights, and make snow forts when there was enough snow. I would play outside 'til I was soaking wet and about to freeze to death. I would have to go inside for a little bit to warm up, and then I was right back outside playing with my friends in the snow. It was one of my favorite things to do with my friends while outside. I also enjoyed snowmobiling so much. I would go around the house and in some big fields around town. Going inside to a nice cup of hot cocoa was also one of the best parts. I think that playing outside as a kid is way better than what today’s kids do for fun. I can’t imagine sitting inside playing on my phone in the middle of winter for fun.
I went to Lancaster Middle School, and then White Mountains Regional High School as a kid and a teenager. I loved going to school and seeing my friends. I always thought that I was going to grow up to become a teacher, or work as some part of a school. I really enjoyed the environment at the schools that I went to. I graduated in 1984. After I graduated I went to Berlin Tech and joined the accounting programs. I went to school to become an accountant, but after a little while I realized that that was something that I didn't want to do. I am glad that I made the decision to become a Special Needs Para at the school that I went to.
Now that I work at the High school that I used to go to I can definitely see how different not just the high school is but the environment outside as well. Yeah, it may be fun being on your phone and staying inside, but going outside and actually doing something with your life and actually having face to face conversations with people is way more important than seeing what someone posted on Facebook or Instagram.