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THE
FUTURE IS BRIGHT
By Nachi Aguboshim, (Nachi,
like most African Children born in the diaspora
is trying to redefine himself.
He writes with passion and an open mind. Nachi
is an intern at the youth desk of African Echo
media group.) |
Now when I was a young lad, (some say that I still am) I remember spending too much of my time on my social life, you know going out and meeting girls. Unknown to myself but by doing that I totally neglected my studies, and as a result I nearly didn’t recognize the potential I had as a writer, potential that my teachers were forever stressing to me. I was so consumed by the events around me that I didn’t focus on what was truly important, that being the opportunity to enhance a talent. This is a problem that is faced by many youngsters today, as they are too fixated on money, socializing, sex, drugs, guns and especially the harsh society that they live in that they tend to neglect their own talents and with that they don’t give themselves the chance to grow and learn.
The question we have to ask ourselves is why are teenagers losing focus and in some cases giving up all together? Before they even have the chance to discover or nurture their gifts. I asked my 13-year-old cousin why he was losing focus with his studies and his response was: ‘Work is long, I don’t know why my mum and dad have got me reading I not going to need half of that junk!’ As tempted as I was to back hand him I had to resist that overwhelming desire. The reason why I held back was because I took time to look around and truly understand the type of world that we are living in. For most black children, growing up is hard, society doesn’t present us with the same opportunities that it does for most people. And sadly that results in most children making their own opportunities, some good but the majority of the bad.
What we tend to see is black youths getting caught up in a society or better yet a system that has many of them struggling and confused and as a result they feel disillusioned and once their confidence begins to fade, with that they begin to abandon hope for any kind of future. The only future that they see for themselves is one of crime, as they throw their lives away before it has even begun.
I remember a quote from Jesse Jackson I believe it was: ‘When the door of opportunity swings open we must make sure that we are not too drunk or too indifferent to walk through’ Now lets take time to look at the word opportunity, it is often defined as being a chance, a break, an occasion or better yet a prospect. As youngsters you have the chance to break away from the flock and think for yourself and with that look into turning various opportunities in your life into prospects for your future.
One thing that I always look back on when I was in my early teens was that I could make plenty of mistakes (whenever I had to make a major decision) and I could still pick myself up whatever the outcome, simply because I had both confidence and I knew that time was on my side.
Remember your youth is a valuable asset, however as valuable an asset as age is there lays a problem for those who don’t realize their potential or those who have formed mental blocks and therefore have subconsciously held themselves back, their personal battles stop them from taking that opportunity to improve themselves.
Now I’m far from being a guidance councilor, but I feel I know a fair amount about the
problems that black children and teenagers go through when growing up, simply because I was that age once.
I know that things can be demoralizing at times, but that is never a good reason to give up. If life is hard then quite simply work harder that way you will feel as though you have truly accomplished something when you finally do achieve your goals, (and believe me you will achieve your goals).
We were all put on this earth for a reason and no life is to be wasted, it is up to you to make the most of your life, because the more you beat yourself up and lose your confidence, the more it becomes apparent that you will defeat yourself, before you’ve even begun your journey.
‘Children are one third of our population and all of our future’ – Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981 Remember your future is a bright as you want it to be!
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