 Can school students manage a love affair and learning at the same time? Mr Onekeo Manyvong, 54, a resident of Sidamduan village, said: "The most important thing for young people is their studies, so students should put learning before loving. But I cannot understand the teenagers of today who have girlfriends or boyfriends when they are 15 or less. We can't stop them if that is what they want, because they're following fashion and the changing society. I think all parents want their children to be well behaved and pay attention to their studies so they can have a good future. But I don't think we can force them in one direction or be angry with them if they have lovers. If we shout at them or beat them they will be upset and go away. Parents have to accept how their children are and try to talk with them by understanding. Whether or not they will listen to us and follow our advice depends on them. We can feed their bodies but we can't feed their minds. Some children listen to us at home but when they go out they forget everything we've said. It is hard to stop them falling in love while they are studying." Mr Nanthaxay Dee-inpeng, 17, a resident of Dongkhamxang village, said: "Love and studies can go together if it is real love and we know how to manage both at the same time. When teenagers have real love, they will help each other in their studies. If they cannot understand something about their lessons they can ask their boyfriend or girlfriend about it, and will support each other. They must divide their time sensibly between studying and going out. As for me, I study when I need to, and my girlfriend also. When we have a day off, we can go out together. I don't go out very often because I don't want to make my parents and her parents worry about us. I tell my parents about my girlfriend, because I don't want them to worry about me. I don't do the things many boys are doing. I notice that they love a girl like they want to show off. They want to be smart. They see that other people have girlfriends, so they want to have girl beside them when they are riding. They want to have a girl with a short skirt sitting on their bike. Some people skip classes to cruise on the streets because they want to show off. If that is their kind of love, they are taking risks with their lives; they don't care about their studies and just want to be seen out and about. I think when they grow up and get married, it will be hard for them to earn money to feed themselves and their wife. They may be in love, but they won't have the education to earn a living. So if we want to have love, we should love in the right way and know how to manage out lives properly." Mr Viengsavanh Chandavong, 28, a resident of Phontong village, said: "I think that students at secondary school level should not have boyfriends and girlfriends because that should be the time they concentrate on their education. If they have free time they should use it to play sport or study other subjects. Teenagers aren't always able to know what is right or wrong. If they fall in love they might forget about their studies. I see many teenagers riding around on their bikes in couples even though they should be in school. Now is the time when they have the opportunity to learn and their brain is growing, I think they should study now; when they get to vocational school or university they can form close relationships. If they fall in love now and neglect their studies, when they become adults they will regret that they wasted their time with love and didn't learn as much as they should. I think schools should offer more activities for students in their free time, such as sports, the Internet, or other activities that can open up a bright future for them." Ms Mauth, 13, a student at Sikhottabong secondary school, said: "Students should not take lovers when they are studying, because they'll always be thinking about them rather than their studies. Some of my friends have boyfriends and are always thinking about them. They worry that their boyfriends will find a new girlfriend and get absent-minded during class. Sometimes they miss class and go out with their boyfriend and neglect their studies. When I tell them they should be studying, they don't take any notice but spend time with their boyfriends even though they have exams. Sometimes, they lie to their parents about going out with their boyfriend. I think all students should put studying first because we are still young. It is not a suitable time to be in love." Mr Saysamone Soneyalath, 23, a resident of Phonsavan village, said: "I don't think it is appropriate for such young people to have lovers. Because they are still young, there is a great risk that they might do the wrong thing. I see many young couples together who forget all about their studies and just ride around town together. I don't see these couples helping each other with their studying. They take lovers only because they want to have fun." |
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