Boss, grab a coffee and sit down, because I've got news that'll make you realize we've all gone completely nuts. Psychologist Mihai Copăceanu shared online a scene that I, for one, wouldn't have believed if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes: a teacher, doing shots with her students at the prom, bro! No joke.
"Now, for the students, she might seem super cool, the coolest teacher ever, but the psychologist warns that such things aren't allowed even on prom night. And he's right, cuz! What message did that teacher send to her students?
That alcohol is mandatory at parties and that rules can be suspended when it comes to having fun? Our youth learn from what they see, not from what they're told. If the adult they look up to, the teacher, drinks with them, then it's okay, right?
Well, that's exactly the problem, man! Copăceanu says teachers remain role models even at prom, and teenagers need clear models and limits. Otherwise, these end-of-year parties can end tragically: alcohol poisoning, serious accidents, assaults.
And he's not joking, because I've seen on the news how many cases there are. Behind the Facebook photos hides a culture of excess that can turn a beautiful memory into a tragedy. "Exactly what I've been saying!
And it's not just his opinion. From meetings with hundreds of students, the psychologist has seen two realities: some teens haven't experienced drunkenness, but others, entire groups, associate relaxation exclusively with drinking until they lose control. "I've seen extremes: classes where students had no experience with drunkenness, no concerns about alcohol consumption, and other classes where, when I asked them how they relax, many answered that they meet up and drink until they're drunk.
And they said it with confidence and good cheer. Boys and girls! "Man, when I hear this, I feel like taking Brian and locking him in the house until he's 18!
But it's not just about him, it's about all our kids. Studies show that Romanian teens drink to get drunk, and excessive consumption is often deliberate. "Unfortunately, for many young people, it seems there's no form of socialization without alcohol.
Mandatory alcohol. For a large part of them, also smoking. And in many situations, especially in high school, also the use of illegal substances.
"And it's no wonder, when you see that even parents are permissive, bro. "The message is that drunkenness is normal, and the consequences are minimized. Well, if parents buy them alcohol, what can you say about the teacher who does shots?
The psychologist is concerned about the onset of alcohol addiction at a young age. And rightly so! He sends a firm message to parents: "Parents must be the prefrontal lobe of their children," meaning they must compensate for the insufficiently developed ability of teens to control impulses.
What does that mean? Not allowing alcohol and tobacco consumption, setting clear rules for prom night, and not leaving kids unsupervised in clubs, cabins, or other locations after the party. "We must supervise them, especially at these proms which are high-risk situations: 'We're done, freedom, I want to have fun before the exam, get drunk until I pee myself.'
Some teens get drunk without intending to, others leave home with the intention of getting wasted! "Copăceanu considers it natural for 14-15-year-old teens to be brought home by their parents after the prom. He reminds that love for children doesn't mean unlimited freedom.
"Not too much love leads to mistakes in raising children, but too little discipline." The greatest proof of affection is the ability to impose healthy limits that protect the life, health, and future of children. "The joy of graduation should not be overshadowed by alcohol abuse, tobacco, illegal substances, or risky behaviors.
Love for children also means supervision, discipline, and healthy limits." Well, that's the conclusion, bro. Now, if you want to be a responsible parent, take it from Copăceanu, not from that teacher who does shots.
As for me, I'm going to explain to Mioara that Brian at the prom isn't leaving my side until he's 18 and has a certificate of being a serious person!
