ONE of the biggest concerns parents have about sending their impressionable children abroad for studies is how they’d behave in a more permissive environment.

* Going wild *

Last week, during #RAGEchat, we discussed parents’ anxiety, youths responsibilities and their susceptiblity towards negative influences abroad.
Here’s what some had to say about living away from home and being vulnerable to distractions and temptations.

@anneliyana: @thestar_rage I kind of disagree. My dad, being a UK grad himself, believes that going abroad broadens our horizons and perception of things.

@fikribaharan: @thestar_rage it depend on parents. If they failed to put the right principals to their kids by the time they leave, they will be worried.

@marrasikon: @thestar_rage isn’t it part of learning curves and growing up? Who are we to judge? +ve & -ve are merely perception of the society.

@tansuann: @thestar_rage no right answer to it. Every parents are different and also the kids too. The trick – never abuse your parents’ trust.

@mauvemarionette: @thestar_rage Yes & no. We don’t learn anything by being sheltered. -vity is everywhere. It is our own choice whether to be influenced/not

So why do some teenagers go ‘wild’ when they are away from their parents? Especially when they are studying abroad.

@tiffanykhoo: @thestar_rage this normally happens when parents suppress their kids too much at home. The kids then find going abroad their ‘chance’.

@JayAnilSS: @thestar_rage Rebellion? Tired of living under someone else’s rules, so they are given freedom beyond perceived before. Stuff happens

@yomitham: @thestar_rage youth will always be curious of new experiences. it’s how they find themselves. soul searching, etc.

@JeremyAdam15: @thestar_rage better to experience that early in life rather than get hooked on to it later once committed w/family n kids etc….

Malaysian top student Nur Amalina Che Bakri was also brought into the mix. The nation’s top scorer in Sijil Pelajaran Menengah (SPM) in 2004 recently created a furore after pictures of her in leggings, dyed-hair and partying circulated online.

Many Malaysians expressed their shock over Nur Amalina’s “degeneration”. Here’s what some of them had to say about the “scandal”:

@rzmaulana: @thestar_rage open her hijab dye hair wear something different = -ve?

@JustineMeiErn: @thestar_rage IMHO, the media has overly criminalized Amalina’s image. It’s superficial to judge her based on mere appearance. Define ‘wild’

So naturally, we asked everyone to spill their dirty little secrets and share their most outrageous moments as student. There were a few real shockers…hold on to your seats (*roll eyes*).

@joonsunn: @thestar_rage I’m guilty for not being adventurous enough.

@Natasha_MA: @thestar_rage walked to McD at 3am and sat there for 2 hrs before going home. Haha. *hardcore* 😛

@eyerizzz: @thestar_rage late night suppers, snooker sessions and er… Lots of Nescafe.

@iarrod: @thestar_rage Spent the whole day in Kinokuniya..

@OdieTenSparkle: @thestar_rage half of the class went swimming miles off shore and we found a lil private beach in Terengganu. nicce!

@fabymaby: @thestar_rage played frisbee around campus in the dark at 3 in the morning 🙂

How reckless of our youths to behave in such manners. Lol. This tweet kinda summed them all up though:

@anneliyana: @thestar_rage obviously, us Malaysian teenagers’ definition of ‘crazy’ is very close to normal. =D

You don’t say…