In psychology many topics are discussed and disected. The minds of young teenagers are one. Aspects of the said teen are then researched debated and focused on but those studies seem to alter and seem to have more of a difference when the teen is or becomes involved in an organized group or "gang". In this essay, I will be expressing my beliefs and my point of view on what goes through the mind of a kid when they are debating on join a gang and on why kids join the gang in the first place as well as the personal influence gangs have in my life.
First off, I would like to point out a few aspects of how gangs influence my environment and the part it plays in my life today. As a citizen living and being an active member of the "West Side" community, I see how gangs have transformed some neighborhoods from being the calm suburb part of alb. With kids running and playing to families, being secluded in homes and police officials patrol neighborhoods. I have seen the many families affected by gangs, the effect gangs have in the education role, and how some gangs have influenced the characterization of said part of Albuquerque. To be completely honest I believe alb. Has it easy there are so many gangs in other parts of the U.S and abroad whose main moral is to kill terrorize and ruin innocent lives. Now don’t get me wrong alb even new Mexico, in that matter, seen tough days but not as much as some towns, cities and even some countries.
To show my personal and in-depth interaction and knowledge of gangs im going to tell you a bit of the influence gangs have had in my life. I live in "The Gates Community" also known as the West Gate Community. It is a small part of Albuquerque that has a beautiful view of the city, which can be seen from many houses, it has a great chain of citizens, but that also has much gang activity, violence, and mishap. When in West Gate, like in many communities, you will come across various stop signs, street names, and even personal property with tags of various gang names, nicknames of gang members, numbers representing a certain gang and the occasional gang member. However, back to the personal influence of my life, gangs have been around ever since I could remember. At school, was when I was first introduced into the gang lifestyle. I believe I was a sixth grader when I was quickly approached by a girl, whom was apart of a gang, the gang and said gang member remain nameless for secluded reason. When she approached me before even asking my name she aggressively asked if I was apart of any gang. I quickly reasoned no. she then proceeded to ask if id be interested in joining the gang she was in. I again reasponed no and began to walk away from her. To me, she became agitated and went after me. She stopped me, continued to ask why I had rejected her offer, and began to state that if I refused to join id have Permanent enemies and would be in danger. A bit shaken up, I still rejected her offer and went on my way. A few days had past when I noticed that bulling, threats, pushing, attempted fights, and violence began. I never realized that from simply rejecting to be in this girls gang, would bring me so much hassle in my life that continues to this day. As I sit here thinking, though, I would not change my choice if the chance came by. I believe the reason for that is because gangs have never been an influence in my family nor in my life until that day.
I believe some the main reasons why teens join gangs today is peer pressure, fear, the belief that the teens life would some how improve, for safety and in some cases to become more popular and accepted by others. The fear eats teens alive and gives them the idea that if they reject and stand up for them selves against the gangs their life might as well be over. The thought of the gang improving one life is so they would have somewhere something or someone to run away to for support and to escape their norms. To become popular and accepted by others, I believe, is the most likely reason for a teen to join a gang. only because those=whom are apart of gangs are known by pretty much everyone. They have this assort of big bright glow to them that shows power, strength, and fear at the very least. Peer pressure of course is a huge impact on teens. Once a member from a group of teens joins a gang or even brings up joining one they begin to drop like flies. One by one slowly being sucked in without knowing what just hit them.
Teens today have more of an advantage to get help with gang violence but many avoid the help because of fear. If someone who teens look up to, could change his or her perception of fear into strength, it could possibly help gang awareness increase and gang involvement decrease. It’s all a matter of time, but to achieve an accomplishment of deteriorating gangs and increasing the strength of saying no to gangs, adults as well as teens need to act and live by the following quote; “Be the change you want to see in the world today.”
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