Jessica Watson..
Después en esta mañana "Sydneysiders" dirán "bienvenida de vuelta Jessica". Jessica es la jovencita de Queensland (16 años) a quien ha regresado a Australia después de navegar alrededor del mundo. Cierto - Jessica es una jovencita muy valiente y estoy tan contenta se ha regresado con seguridad. Pero no de acuerdo con permitir una persona tan joven a intentar hacer algo. Creo que es demasiado peligroso. ¿Qué piensan?
(Later in the morning Sydneysiders will say "Welcome back Jessica". Jessica is the young Queensland girl who has returned to Australian waters after sailing (solo) around the world. True - Jessia is brave and I am so glad she has returned safely. But I do not agree with allowing such a young person (16) attempting a thing such as thing. I think it is too dangerous. What do yous think?
14 Answers
Its amazing the lenghts kids will go to, to get away from thier parents for a while.
Standing on the steps of the Opera house the Prime Minister of Australia said of Jessica "she is our newest hero' Jessica turned to him and said " I must disagree with the Prime Minister I am not a hero i am just an ordinary person but one who can be an Ambassador to the young ". That one sentence showed that she could also be a great roll model for the youth of the World. It is worth noting that she came from a great sailing family who knew her worth as a sailor and had confidence in her ability and showed great courage in allowing her to follow her dream . Remember also that one day out from Brisbane she hit a ship and had to go into port and wait for repairs ,then start again , that showed courage and determination on a grand scale, some say she was a foolish petulant child , well maybe she was , but she is now a great Woman. 
I think that it is simply amazing what she has accomplished, and it is definitely a memory which I am sure will live with her for a lifetime. At this point it makes little sense to second guess this endeavor with questions of "what might have happened if...."
As a parent of six children today, I could not see myself being so ambitious as to endeavor such an expedition. Certainly there were ordeals that this young girl faced, but it was just life, and life is made up of ordeals. You can either hide from them, or you can experience them full force. And in my opinion, it is both amazing and admirable that not only the girl but the girls parent's as well had the courage to embrace such an adventure. I can only imagine the number of trials this girl had to face along the way. That being said, I can also only imagine the overwhelming number of wonderful memories that this girl will have to look back on when she remembers fondly of her journey around the world in 7 months.
--Carpe diem--
I think the idea of "Being the First on something very difficult to achieve" was the primary goal of the family. Everything else falls behind that.
Wow-- very brave girl. I personally would not allow her to do it, but I guess she had a dream and she reached her goal. Her parents must have allowed her to do it and they should be proud of her. I am amazed-- I couldn't see myself doing that.
In my capacity as one of the oldest grumps on this site, may I say.
Jessica is great, unbelievable (except that she's done it) and,hopefully, an inspiration to lots of young folk.
But does she, can she speak Spanish?
Creo que todo depende de la cultura que nos haya criado, nos haya educado, y nos haya construido cognitivamente nuestra personaliddad, o por lo menos haya ayudado a ello. Esta muchacha ha sido bendecida por la confianza absoluta de su familia, o de su entorno en general. Nuestros pensamientos giran en torno a lo malo que pueda suceder en una aventura de este tipo, y no en la experiencia enriquecedora y constructivista que pueda obtener. Muy bien por su proeza.
Creo que es demasiado peligroso. ¿Qué piensan?
Peligro? Mi segundo nombre es peligro.
Everyone has different skills and capabilities. I was a precocious kid academically but my mother could not imagine my abilities even when the testing showed them. SHe still is unable to accept that I function at a level she could never achieve. (Not vanity,just fact) I think I suffered more from being "sheltered" than being able to graduate early or start college instead of wasting time in High school.
This girl is obviously in the upper echelons of sailing. There is no way she could have even attempted this without much training. With the expenses involved I would imagine her parents promoted her. Kudos to them. Even if she "failed" she got the opportunity to test her mettle.
I met the woman who eventually succeeded to row from the US to Europe solo. She "failed" once because she capsized in a hurricane. To have the courage, endurance and whatever else it took to get out there is an achievement in itself.
She obviously did a great job, but I do think 16 is too young to deal with life & death situations.
It depends on the motives for the action (certainly not if it was just for notoriety) and the degree of risk actually involved.
¿Tuvo la permisión de sus padres? No creo que algun padre sano permitiría un viaje como esto.
Did she have her parents permission? I don't believe any sane parent would permit a trip like this.
I think she is amazing.
I must confess, I did watch Jessica's arrival (on the telly) through the Sydney "heads" and it must have been an amazing day for her. Sydney was on her best behaviour (weather-wise) for Jessica's arrival.
But my spin on the conversation if I had been Jessica's mum (and I do have a Jessica...)
Jessica: "Mum I want to sail solo around the world!".
Mum: "What??? Go to your room immeidately young lady!!!! Don't come out until you're 25!!!!!!"
