Society and Young People

by Imran Bacchus

Our society has placed a great deal of strain on the lives of our young people. It has programmed them to think and behave a certain way; that they have to achieve a particular thing by a certain age. This sort of pressure and way of thinking is far from the realities that many young people face. There are young people who live in and have been raised in circumstances where they do not have as much as the other person sitting next to them, but they are trying their best.

Young people are encouraged to be themselves and continue to seek ways to improve their lives in meaningful and significant ways. However, they should not allow their communities and environments dictate their achievements in life and set a timeline for them. As a result of the continuous pressure that many youths face by families and circles, many of them turn to drugs and gangs as a means of escaping the frustration and the constant provocation and oppression that they face. Further, societal pressures increase anxiety and retaliative traits in youths.

When we look at our economic conditions and the extensive transformation in our countries, we should be cognizant of the fact that young people should be able to make their own choices regarding their ambitions and career path. Society can take away the true meaning and value of oneself causing our youths to be people pleasers and to not be individually happy. It is no wonder that we have many smiling faces today, but no one is truly at peace.

Further, to ease the tension between societal pressures and the trail of discontentment that follows, parents and leaders are urged to have more conversations with their children and find ways to support them. Many young people are looking for support and when they cannot find this among the people that they love, this is when they reside to other groups outside. Consequently, they fall into the snare and trap of wrong company.

We cannot let society determine our children’s future. As parents, teachers, guardians and youth leaders, it is our responsibility to recognise a child’s potential and help to fuel their aspirations. Also, we have to constantly remind our youths that where they are and where they want to be will not happen at the snap of a finger. They may have to endure some rough days and they may even want to quit and question why they chose a particular path. At the same time, they may see other young people surpassing them while they are sweating and struggling. Besides, it is at this juncture, we must teach our youths the importance of sacrifice and patience. Nothing is wrong with struggling and waiting a bit longer. As such, young people should not let society make them feel any less or inferior because they are in a position of working.

Society, through people, has this way of altering one’s thinking that if no results are seen and if you are not moving forward as quickly as you ought to then something is wrong with you. Each child and youth has a purpose and a dream, and it most certainly does not look identical to each other. Young people ought to develop the

courage and stamina to stand against judgements and criticisms because these are reactions that they will encounter and face. Therefore, this highlights the pertinence of having Emotional Intelligence and Mentorship Sessions in schools. Young people need to be educated more on turning down the noise and ignoring the expectations of society that can clutter and confuse them.