Ageism is a bias against someone based on age. Yes, both young and old people fall prey to this dismissal. But the young crowd seemingly deals with more ageism, with everything ranging from driving to voting, religion and tattooing.

In Texas, you have to be 18 to be able to drive without a legal adult. If an emergency or problem were to arise, one that would not require law enforcement or an ambulance, but just you and time, we could not be able to do anything about it. Let us say your father and mother are both at work, your kid brother got left at school, and you are able to go get him, but you cannot because you are only 15 or 16 and are not allowed to drive. Although the government does allow 16 year olds to drive, we do not get to have the same freedoms as someone who was born two years earlier. This is a perfect example of how laws are specific to age, amplifying ageism.

We should also have a right to vote. Being heard and acknowledged is what we want. We want a say, we want our opinions heard.

Lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 would greatly impact the political arena. We would choose presidents for our time, for our needs. We would try our hardest to make this world better for our families, making a change in America, making a change in us.

Continuing the conversation for more freedom for youths, self-expression shouldn’t pose such a threat. Yet, the ability to do so is very much dependent on age – young people can’t get tattoos or piercings without parent consent. I would say that we deserve a right to be able to express ourselves at any age, permanent or not.

Since we have to be 18 to get a tattoo, we are restricted from what I call self-made happiness. This is a form of self-expression, these personal freedoms are sacred. We are taught to be creative and to have imagination at a young age, how can we be punished for our over blossomed minds? We have so many ideas and dreams that lay rested and undisturbed. I just cannot see how going out and getting a piece of art on our bodies is considered bad or wrong. Then again, right and wrong is very different for everyone.

One of the biggest, oldest, and very alive problems is cigarettes. Yes, the reason it is harmful is because of the tobacco and nicotine within, which causes cancer. It is a very harmful and addictive substance, but not only to the person who lights up, but to the people around them. Every year, about 47,000 deaths of non- smokers result from second hand smoking. The most common illnesses amongst non-smoking adults is heart disease and lung cancer. While in children and infants, it is asthma and other respiratory related problems tend to develop.

People over 18 can cause this harm to themselves, but people under 18 cannot pick up their younger sibling in need?

There is danger all around us. We live in a dangerous world. But if we had more freedom to be happy with ourselves, and spread that happiness in society, we would realize that other people deserve the same happiness. But we cannot make that happen without the freedom and ability to engage these emotions and start a change.