Everyone knows about the idea “Older is Wiser,” which comes from the thinking that older people have more experience in life overall, therefore they know more about life. Nowadays, that idea lacks foundation. Everyone has their own lives and backgrounds, everyone has different experiences.

I am not saying that we should not respect our elders or listen to them. I just want to acknowledge that they do not know everything about the world. I suppose, in a sense, they do have more overall knowledge about their experience but, their experience was different than others. They are only wise in their way, and sometimes you do not need their way to help you find yours.

When I think of the word, wise, I  automatically think smart, understanding and knowledgeable. Wise does not entail all-knowing and sometimes people tend to forget that. I have been in many situations where many adults have looked down upon me and underestimated my abilities because I am a teenager. However, in these particular situations I typically have a better understanding of the subject than they do. Just because I am young does not mean I am not wise. I have had my own experiences that have shaped me into who I am and have affect me in many different ways, and adults need to acknowledge that I do not need to be told what to do just because I have not lived as long as them.

If I need your advice on something, I will ask for it. If you think I am doing something wrong, bring it up in a nice way, do not be condescending about it. Older people have to understand, as well, that we need to make our own mistakes so we can learn from them. You could warn us that you think the outcome might not be what we except, but it is our choice whether to go along with it or not.

Older people have more life experience. However, everyone’s life is different and ever-changing. They may be wise in their own way, but they should not discredit our knowledge and abilities just because we are young. There are many things that we can learn from our elders, but there are also a lot of things we have already learned for ourselves. There are still a lot of things that we need to learn and having guidance will be good for us, but you need to let us live our lives and make our own mistakes so we can get our own life experiences.