What Happened to the Youth of This Generation?

What happened to the youth of this generation?

A few decades ago, the youth grew up knowing only their immediate family and few friends within their circle of activities. They were raised based on family values which are passed on from generation to generation, values which were largely acceptable by society. Then boom, out of nowhere came the internet, the "ruler" of today's world. The internet which was originally intended to aid communication in the military lost its purpose, or "it was expanded", so they say. The internet in itself is not bad, but it has produced a generation of youth who are almost genius and a breed of youth carrying an "I know best" and an "I care less" attitude.

What's the point here? Am I condemning the internet or the youth?

Fortunately, I'm doing none of the above. I'm only creating awareness and trying to draw our minds back to the Akan adage which suggests that "a person walking on a straight path does not know that his back is crooked". Such a person needs to be corrected from behind. The youth today need to realize that things have changed in the way they are being done but the same things are still being done. History keeps repeating itself as they say. A young girl, for instance, starts menstruating at age 11 today, when people started menstruating at about 16 or 18 in the past. People used to move from one place to another on horseback. Today, the movement has evolved to the use of driverless cars. The way things used to be done keeps evolving but the same things keep recurring. It seems the world today is in a speed race of evolution.

The fact that you think the days of your parents have passed does not mean their advice will be of no importance to you. The truth is that the path you ply today has already been taken by them. Their experience is the best road map for youthful adventures and their success or failures is the best judge of the consequences of decisions you are yet to make. The youth today walkabout, connected to millions of others over the internet and on social media. The media seems to be their guardians and the life stories of others seem to push them to unnaturally exceed their limits. These media seem to have every information but they invariably lack the result of every decision you are going to make. Every success story you read out there has a context that is most likely different from yours. Be cautious. 

Today's youth use flashy cars as their profile and create an impression that they have made it already. There is this notion of "positive vibe", which drives their passion and creates a fire within to devour every barrier in their way, stopping them from getting what they want. And it is as if they are ready to do anything to get it. It is not too strange that crime is on the rise today than ever. It is mostly because the youth today see their mates in the expensive cars and having all the chilling in town. The pressure it creates in their minds, sends a signal to act against all odds to fall within that class, to get the fame and the name that comes with such luxurious living. As a result, they sometimes play with human lives like a game. What happened to the times when everyone at home sits around the earthenware pot to devour a handful of ampesi and a "concoction" made of leaves and few vegetables? What happened to the times when all children gather at night, in the light of a full moon to listen to stories with great morals and lessons from the elderly? The rebellion in the youth against authority today is alarming. What have young people of today seen? What have they been exposed to? Why have they gone wrong? 

There is also this alarming issue of young people going after the glamour and glitter of this world and trying to get whatever they want without going through the laid down process. Today, it is common to find many young people craving fame and riches and ready to use any dubious means possible to get that. The problem is not with fame or riches, the problem is ignoring the "process". The youth, in their quest for riches and fame should ask themselves, "what do you want to get famous for; have you worked hard enough to become famous? Are you ready for fame, the pressure, the price attached to fame; are you ready to pay the price of sleepless nights, thinking about ways to entertain and maintain your fans, the price of everything about your life, including your private life being published and talked about, the price of you having to answer to the whole world when you do something that society thinks is wrong, the price of being judged by society? Are you ready to pay the price to get rich, to have sleepless nights, work so hard to meet deadlines, overwork to get extra income, manage your money so you can save, take high investment risks? Are you ready to forfeit pleasure and find pleasure in hard work? 

Sadly, many of these young people looking for get-rich-quick schemes are just looking for money to squander on lustful pleasure and not on meaningful investments. They are looking for money that they can use to show off and brag about being in a certain "class". But take some time and consider "rich" people, they don't do that. They spend wisely, they invest, they work hard, they "bust their asses" working to leave a mark. There is a story that was rumoured about Bill Gates and his daughter. They both go to the same restaurant to eat, Bill Gates demands every bit of his change, his daughter does the exact opposite. What's the difference? Think about it. Rich people do not get money on a silver platter, it takes years of experience and hard work. All the people who go through shortcuts, do not last. They either die early, lose their wealth and leave no legacy behind. They don't fully appreciate the worth of what they have. After all, they did not work hard for it.

There are many ways to make it in life but chose wisely because you will be responsible for the consequences of your choice. You don't necessarily have to become a millionaire overnight to feel that you have made it. There are cases where the path has already been cleared for people and all they have to do is to take responsibility and do a little work. However, in a typical Ghanaian and African society, one will have to work hard to make it in life. You can start by setting small goals and achieving them. When you achieve your small goals, you become fulfilled and confident to move on and achieve higher ones. It starts small before getting big. Houses are not built from the roof but the root. Start small, work hard, ignore the noise and distractions, ignore the pressure and keep pushing. One day, you will build a mansion. One day you will get what you want. But remember, it all starts small.

Written by: Isaac Game A. Mawulorm

Facebook: Isaac Mawulorm

Instagram: @isaac_game_mawulorm

Twitter: @GameMawulorm