Recently in Japanese class, we wrote an essay describing aspects of our school. We were supposed to include a sentence about the problems we have, so we learned the words for things such as drugs and guns.

However, drugs don’t seem to be a problem while Uni students are at school, and I've never heard of any incident involving guns.

I don’t know how to say, “There are always long lines for the microwaves in the kitchen,” so in my essay I simply wrote that Uni doesn’t have any problems.

Of course, that’s not true. There are plenty of problems at any school, whether it’s bullying or stealing or smelly bathrooms.

One problem I’ve been focused on lately is ageism. Condescension has always bothered me.

Luckily, I’ve found that ageism isn’t extremely common at Uni, and when it does occur, it isn’t aggressive. Upperclassmen might make fun of subfreshmen, but in general, different classes are interspersed at social events.

The kind of ageism that I am concerned about results in people feeling defeated.

An older classmate whom you look up to might make a patronizing remark, or a teacher might suggest that the answer to a question should be obvious.

Many adults feel that their opinions are more valid just because they are older.

“Mother/father knows best.” This is true in many situations.

Parents have more experience and usually know what is safe for their children. But as children grow into young adults, they have learned enough about themselves to make many of their own decisions.

Some parents don’t understand that, and feel that their age makes them smarter.

So, think twice before you say something potentially condescending.

Are you saying it just because you happened to have lived a little longer?