Calvin Mountain

Calvin Mountain

Mr. Anderson

English 2B

 1-30-2012

Some people just don’t realize how lucky they are; food, shelter, friends and family. This is for the benefit of one Sylvia who doesn’t seem to realize how lucky she is. Sylvia is a 16 year old girl that wishes to be emancipated from her home on the grounds that she is restricted, cramped and her boyfriend is in college. Sylvia should stay home because if she was to move out then chances are that she will be more limited, less comfortable and less likely to get through to college.

The first reason Sylvia wants to leave is because she is restricted by her parents, but the truth is that although she would be free of her “restrictive parents”, she could have many other greater restrictions. “63% of all emancipated children end up on drugs or in the hospital with permanently damaging injuries within only 6 months. “Within 6 months… 63% are on drugs, or in the hospital with permanent damage.” (Emancipated children protected?) Sylvia would not have the odds in favor of her being “Healthy” when she reaches 17 if she wants to move out. She should stay home because she would likely be less restricted than if she was to move out.

Another reason Sylvia should stay home is although she feels cramped now she is likely to be more “uncomfortable than before. She is likely to be more uncomfortable than before. She could be in jail, homeless or involved in human trafficking before 1 year of her leaving has passed. “ Less than one year after  emancipation an estimated 10% of girls are involved with human trafficking… 60% are homeless and 10 % are in jail.” (Post emancipation statistics)  These numbers show that she is likely to be less comfortable than before if she leaves. Sylva doesn’t seem to realize that her life could be much worse, therefore she should stay.

Sylvia should stay at home because her chances of going to college would be very poor if she was to leave. The emancipated children committee did a study that showed very few emancipated children go to college, much less finish. “…25% of emancipated children go to college and just 31% of the 25% actually graduate.”  (EEC & Graduation study) This shows that only 25% of all emancipated children go to college and only 31% of those continue on to graduation. Sylvia should stay home because it would greatly improve her chances of going to and graduation from college like her boyfriend is doing.

Sylvia Should stay home because she will probably end up being more limited, uncomfortable and unlikely to get to and through college. Sylvia feels restricted now, but if she leaves she is likely to be more restricted just in different ways.  She also feels trapped but if she was to be emancipated she be in jail or involved in human trafficking or homeless within 6 months. This young girl feels that her boyfriend being in college has a bearing; if she stays home she will have good chances of going to college and be with him. In conclusion Sylvia should stay home because her life would be much harder if she was to leave.