HOW CAN A YOUNG PERSON BE OF ADVANTAGE?

A youth should majorly offer assistance.

The neighbor knocked and called,

“Kijanaa are you in?” The door was ajar

“Yes, I am.”

“How can one place the dot bullets on a word sheet to indicate different points?” He held his laptop at the door towards my face.

“Click here.” I pointed at the Paragraph zone point just below the Review tab. He clicked and sighed softly as his vocals displayed the satisfied man in him. It was not that complicated.

This is not the first time to be identified with the tag ‘kijanaa’. A stress in the name adds an ‘a’ at the end to get attention and sound polite. Neighbours pop in to say that their bulbs have faulted and need replacement. When the dog barks outside, they know that I will get out and see what is happening without any worry. Our toilet is not of a functioning cistern. Some water has to be emptied in the bigger pail at the door. I am the only one that can find pleasure in carrying some water from the tap to the pail place. This is exercise to shade off too much chips-cholesterol in town on a thin body. Then they would ensure that the toilet is a haven.

I have bragged much. Haven’t I? But if you are a youth you must be in one way a key person at some place and you can agree. Whether you are a lady or a lad, being smart will always give you an upper hand in an organization. You can be fast to move hence be reliable for messaging. You can be quick to think and contribute largely in a discussion. You can be quick to change and adapt to a number of issues that not everyone can. Technology is here and most youths are using it as an advantage over the elder people in offices. You can connect printers, burn disks, maintain websites, run social media cites and so many other areas of operation.

The kind of power you exercise can set you apart among many. This can be knowledge, skills or attitude not just said but exhibited. Proverbs 20: 29 says, ‘The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair.’ Okonkwo washed his hands and he ate with elders. The willingness to serve people and not to sound a future boss will see them move by your directions as they think they drive you. For instance, a person who is willing to perform an activity for the benefit of an elder person can engage in a discussion that will enhance a win-win situation. In this case, a youth can benefit more than the elder. How? The experience gained, time well-used, trust created, people to meet during the activity and fulfillment of personal wants. What more does a youth need?

Being a youth does not entail a passive stage in life of just going to class and doing exploits in the classrooms. It is a stage of shaping a mirage future. The movie-watching thing, football-discussion-times, the will-do-later attitude, sex-is-good, do-I-care and other such personalities limit one’s performance in this precious age. Your ways can still be controlled by your parent or guardian depending on the kind of needs you have but it should not limit your efforts. Wake up lest you call your youth hood vanity as it is written. It is not the time to taste all the Kegs in town and smoke long and short cigars. It is not a stage of trying. It is a foundation period. The stronger it is the better.

You are not expected to conflict with people as a youth. You do not know who will be your key person in the near future. Though some people may be too low in reason, others too extreme in decisions and few playing stupid, your emotions should not cross the river to their hearts. If you please, you will rise. If you are wrong, apologize. If they refuse to forgive, your God will witness to that. Proceeding with moderation in all stakes of life as one finds a path in life will prevent misunderstandings, because the elderly, having experienced a number of things-which is true to any growing mind- may have made some decisions out of doings in life that a youth has not yet experienced. Finding a balance, though hard, calls for the determination in areas of spiritual and emotional growth. Are you working for this? I am struggling.

Outshining fellow youths is not the agenda of success in this period. It will definitely be seen that so and so is an honour to his age. The point here is to grow with your peers. But some peers would be so jealous and untrustworthy, some in need of power that they cannot exercise. In such cases, be wise to identify the stupid ones without calling them stupid because they will never forgive you for being innocent to express your view of them. There are others who are in the drag-me category. Cease from being a subscriber to that club. The worst mistake you can do at this point is to conform. Conforming is associating with groups and having friends who have confused ambitions. If your friend is not challenging you for the best in life, should I say what is to be done?

Your work and words will set you apart in majority. We talk too much about football and present happenings. We also discuss local politics too much and set too little time for ideas that would solve our problems. We are an audience of people who have achieved in life and without knowing, we tend to worship them. Ladies too loose their worth at this point. Many will want to confirm by the nature of their demeanour or how much they can complain about small issues. The few who will set their time to achieving their goals are the representative of slow integrated development that the world has long been waiting for. The Youth!

Benefits are in bulk if you play your part well at this age. Every elderly person cherishes their youthful days. Some would want to go back and make the walls they broke. The old look back at their youthful days with admiration and associate with the youths for reminiscence. You will hear the best of wisdom if you open your heart to understanding. People will want you to help them here and there. And by serving, you will realize your purpose in life. Your friend will look at you as not just a mentor but a role model. The neighbor will call you to say that he wants to share his favorite dish. Your parents will be respected because of you. Siblings-both elderly and the young-will look at you as a resource to learn from. You will change the world! For you can if you want.

And so, wake up early today, write in your diary what you want to accomplish, go into the world knowing that you will come back in the house to record your actions. If they are pleasing, you will find the energy to wake up even early the following day.

You are living at the peak of your life.