Teen brides and grooms willing to face challenges
by Zakiya Larry, Craigmont High
Here comes the bride. Gliding elegantly down the aisle, she is nervous yet glowing at the ripe old age of Š 18? Teen love blossoms every day, but should teens actually take the big plunge into marriage? For various reasons, many teens do. "There¹s no logic to it, whatsoever," said Kevin Covington about his engagement. Kevin, an 18-year-old senior at Craigmont High School proposed to his bride-to-be, Christie Keeley, also a Craigmont senior, in February. Their wedding is scheduled for July 21. Kevin said he plans to attend college and major in business. He said he doesn¹t see himself becoming rich, but he aspires to be financially comfortable and able to support a family. Saying 'I Do' Now is Risky
More than 60 percent of teenage marriages fail within 5 years. ‹ from "Teenage Couples: Caring, Change, and Commitment," by Jeanne Warren Lindsay A girl married at 17 is twice as likely to be divorced as a girl 18 or 19. If a girl waits until she is 25 the chances that her marriage will last are four times better. ‹from "Teen Marriage," by Eleanor H. Ayers
So what¹s the big rush to get married? Kevin and Christie said they know they are perfect for each other and just didn¹t want to have to wait any longer to be together. "I knew we¹d be together forever," Kevin said, smiling lovingly at Christie. Teen marriages aren¹t the norm. The average age of first marriage was 25 years for women and 26.8 years for men in 1996, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Fifty years ago, women were marrying at an average of 20.8 years and men 23.2 years. Sociologists say that throughout history, marriage rates have varied. For example, it might surprise some people that moral leaders in the 1890s were worried about decreasing marriage rates and increasing divorce rates. Sound familiar? When the economy is good, there's less incentive for women to marry. In 1890, the average age of brides was 22 ‹ fairly late considering that the average life span for women then was 48. But during the Great Depression, women married younger. And in the Œ50s women married young because men returning from the war were eager to marry and have children. Although many of our parents married young, most teen-agers have grown up hearing that we should wait to marry until after college. Still, teens do get married for a number of reasons, including pregnancy or to get out of an unpleasant home. Even though Christie and Kevin are getting married for better reasons, they admit that getting married so young takes a great deal of patience and true love, along with family support. Contrary to popular opinion, Kevin advises love-struck teens to listen to and value the opinions of parents and loved ones because they just might reveal a point teens overlooked. Other teens are not so open to the idea of teen marriages or engagements, including Shermekia Plez, a 17-year-old Craigmont senior. "I don¹t think it¹s appropriate," said Shermekia, a future athletic trainer/ elementary educator. Regardless of her present opinion, Shermekia hopes to marry at the age of 22, a step in life she and her boyfriend have already planned. Marriage at any age is an important decision, so when 17-year-old Victoria Douglas of Craigmont was asked what advice she¹d give to a friend considering marriage, she simply said, "I think they should wait, but I¹d wish them luck." Teens are at a crucial point in their lives where decisions are made, then quickly changed, so time should be taken when making a decision in all serious matters. "A teen has to be mature enough to make that decision," Christie said. "Make sure it¹s exactly what you want," added Kevin.
The Teen Appeal is a newspaper published monthly and distributed to all Memphis City High Schools free of charge through The University of Memphis
