"I've wanted this all of my life"

As a family, we watch TV so infrequently, because there's very little that doesn't annoy us or assault our morality in one way or another. We have, however, been fairly faithful in watching "America's Got Talent" or AGT to those of us "in the know." It's a reality type show that's actually worth watching. The acts vary from really, really awful (think a guy getting kicked repeatedly in his private area) to amazing - a guy whose creates and plays instruments that can only be described by seeing them.

Week after week, the show works to eliminate some of the acts with the ultimate goal of having one act named the winner. Week after week we hear various reasons of why an act should be voted for. I'm not against any act saying that they are "the best" or "we've worked so hard," or "I want this so much." What I find somewhat annoying is a 14, 15, or 16 year old who says "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."

This is annoying because when they say "I've wanted this all of my life," 14-16 years isn't really long enough to develop a serious want for a majority of kids in this country. Up to this point, mommy and daddy have been providing 3 squares, some sheets, a blanket and a bunk, along with a wardrobe that would cover an entire village in the poorest of cities and countries. In other words, they lack nothing and haven't been without any of the basic necessities needed to survive.

Furthermore by the age of 16 most kids barely know who they are. Most of them are trying to fit in at school, keep the zit count down to 3 or less or figure out if their best friend from last week still likes them.

Finally, by this age, they haven't been on the planet long enough to develop a serious passion in order for something to "mean the world to me." Passion comes from a deep, deep longing that is really only discovered after several very high and/or low life experiences and definitely comes after they have figured out a few things about who they are.

To be fair, I'm sure they really want to win the contest, but to say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me" is simply naive, immature and annoying.

By all means, enjoy your performances kids, but go home, live life a little bit and discover what it really means when you say "I've wanted this all of my life. This means the world to me."