The Third Option is...

Compromise. Times change and people change very fast. Especially with us millenniums, the new generation where technology has given us the opportunity to learn about the cultures of the world through social media and Google within seconds. Now, we have these outlets, but we also have our parents and family. Our parents have their own culture and so do we. But how can the new generation compromise with the old? Do we feel as if our parents mentalities are stopping us from becoming our own culture? Is this the reason why we disrepsect and dishonor the ways of the past generations? The only way we can honor the culture of our parents yet break away and establish our own identity is compromise; becoming open minded to the point where we learn from the cultures of the past but also take on these exciting new ways of thinking. We can be critical, in an efficient way in which we learn from the past. We, as a generation must honor the the cultures of our parents because history repeats itself and the way we think could reoccur in new sense. On a personal note, having parents that are from the middle east and had strict parents, who may have loved them, but taught them to respect elders, can be difficult at times. The idea of "a new generation" did not exist 30/40 years ago in the middle east. The way things were, were the way things were. So trying to explain this idea is a complicated task, but with compromise, we were able to understand the importance of working hard and being humble. Because back then, that is all they had. My parents did not have a nice house or decent cars or "money", so they had to get to where they want by taking the time to work. Now, my parents will not beat me with a spoon if I bring a B, because they understand the difficulty of investing yourself in school. They didn't so well, so I take that and think "Hey, if they became successful and happy without getting straight A's, can't I?" So that idea of working hard and becoming successful isn't in school, I have learned from them, but in dedication. Now, this doesn't mean that I will drop out and work to get money, because I have a choice. I have the chance to go to college become educated and successful, and this is what I, and the new genertation of kids have in common. The chance to succeed and not struggle as much as our parents did. The only way to keep your identity but honor the mentality of your parents and their culture is so be critical, to be ambitious, but to also stick to your roots and be loyal to the roots of your parents and what they beleive. The 3rd option lies in the relationship between you and your parents. And the only way to find it is to communiate, listen, understand, teach and compromise.