Let’s not steal Jessica’s youth

I was disappointed that Jessica Sanchez did not win the “American Idol” competition, but hours after the proclamation of the winner, I thought her “defeat” was a godsend. Jessica has talent that is beyond her years but emotionally and physically she is only 16. Michael J., Whitney Houston and Lindsay Lohan did not have normal teenage lives, and look what happened to them. They got into drugs and notorious behavior so detrimental to their lives.

Let us support not only Jessica’s talent but also her having a normal teenage life. Let us not steal her youth and put her on a pedestal that would put her under so much pressure to meet our expectations. Let us treat her like our national treasure and allow her to cultivate not only her talent but her whole being as a normal teenager.

—LOURDES AMOR PARAS,

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