Being a president is one of the jobs many children in the United States dream of having someday. The youngsters' tune, however, seems to be changing in recent years. A survey found that children don't aspire to be the country's commander-in-chief anymore because of the pressure and stress tied to the position.
A Highlights for Children survey asked 2,000 children with ages between six and 12 whether they want to become president someday. The researchers found that 65 percent of kids don't want the country's highest position and only 35 percent aspire to snag the presidency someday.
What's with the disinterest over being a president? One child's deal breaker is social media and its negative aspects.
Ryan Ostrowski said that people on the internet would have a field day if the president "says one bad thing" and "that could change your whole reputation," CNN reported. These kids don't want to experience that kind of condemnation. Instead, they want to be veterinarians, baseball or lacrosse players, professional figure skaters, scientists or fire fighters.
Even hypothetically offering them money doesn't attract children to the presidency. A fourth-grader would agree to become president if $1 million is offered to him but they'd have to hand him the money "at the same time because it might be a scam." Other kids, however, still don't want to be president even with money involved, arguing that there are other ways to get $1 million.
Fifth-grader students believe that being president entails "too much pressure" and stress. They don't think that they are fully-equipped to handle these challenges.
Christine French Cully, the editor-in-chief of Highlights for Children Inc., looked back at her own childhood when "everybody wanted to be the president of the U.S." Back then, children view the presidency as a means to "influence the world and put yourself in the limelight and to be challenged."
Unfortunately, that outlook has changed now and Cully and her colleagues suspect that the 2016 presidential elections have a hand in the matter. America's current election may be "giving kids the idea that being president is a little bit of a thankless job." This means that children are mindful and are absorbing the negativity thrown around in this election.
Cully advised parents and educators to discuss and honor the presidency "and remind kids that public service is an honorable profession and a great thing to do." This way, children would think about the common good instead of just their individual needs.
Other children, however, still aspire to become president someday. A fifth-grader said that being president "sounds amazing" because "you're representing America" and there's "a pretty good life" in store for those who hold the position.
