Challenges For Young People

It is said we need a direction in life. We need to know where we’re going – what we’re doing – and we need to justify our actions. There has to be a reason for our work. And sometimes people call this purpose, only because they want to justify their actions. Many of us will listen to people who are not on the same wavelength as us and then make their order our purpose. Society and elders ask for stability, direction, and a path they want us to follow. ‘Our lives were hard, you have it easy,’ they say, they are right and wrong at the same time. 

In the old days, resources were limited and dreams were shaped according to those limitations. There was no technology in the way it is now. The generation before us cooked on wood, read the paper for information, and lend their ears to the radio for news. In such times, one had few choices and much fewer chances to explore what the world had to offer. Unlike now, where we have touch-and-go information. We have touch-and-go choices about which job to apply for, where to study, and which movie to watch tonight. From the outside, it sounds perfect – having such easy access to everything we need. But are we at ease? Has technology made everything simpler and easy for us? The answer is yes and no. 

Information Deluge

The generation of today has to confront so much information that it causes burnout. By clicking the refresh button one has new information, opinion, and update every second. There is always something happening, something going on with the world. There are so many things we want to try out and yet we can’t because life gets in the way. We turn to the internet for information and yet after 5 minutes we get lost there and turn into sleepwalkers. We are scrolling, reading, and reviewing things on the internet without really grasping the true essence of it. Now, we have an overload of information. It is overwhelming and tiring. On top of that, we have expectations from parents to fulfil. We have society looking down on us. 

In such haste, we forget that we, ourselves are a part of this universe. We lose sight of our dreams. We forget we can choose our path and live by our means. We are pulled by the noise of other people telling us we need to be such and be that. In that noise, our voice gets lost and we often cannot find the courage to give voice to our aspirations. Some of us want to paint, write, swim, trek, sing, dance, act, play competitive sports (outdoors or indoors), and whatnot. Many of us young people want to be free, be illogical and make tons of memories.

 Not all of us want a corporate job where we get paid minimum wage just for killing our dreams. Our dream is our purpose. Our purpose is our only key to existence. Without passion and a hunger for creation, the world seems grey and people will order us to be as they deem. A life of security sounds very convenient and an easy option but why choose easy when one can also live with excitement? A human in contemporary society is near to bliss when he/she performs in their area of interest/passion. And fellow young people, that is our greatest challenge. 

The greatest challenge for us young people today is to have the courage to follow our dreams. Yes, it is hard. Yes, our parents want us to be safe but why choose safe when one can also be thrilled and inspired? A secure life is a dream of many and that is not at all bad. A saying goes, ‘go where your heart is.’ And that is very true. Today, many youths kill their dreams and become like everyone else – or they become what society wants them to be. And they price for that for the remainder of their lives.

People say, ‘your passion isn’t enough to keep you alive.’ But what if that passion is the only thing that provides a spark in our lives, a reason to smile, and a sole aid to make us want to live more and explore more? We, young people, should never undermine the strength of our dreams. We should pursue what our heart desires. We should go where the sweet songs of our passion hum. We have one shot at life, this is one life to show some bravery, one life to follow what we want – a passion, a dream, and a sense of accomplishment. 

Pursuing Passion

The noise comes heavily from society and from other people who couldn't quite fulfil their dreams – it’s up to us if we give them the authority to shape our lives. It’s we who decide if their voices are more powerful than the loud cries of our dreams. The call of our passion is colossal and desperate. Our passion needs us, and we need them. Some days they are our only identity, some days they keep us alive and hopeful for what comes tomorrow. So many popular figures around the world are where they are because they were brave – brave enough to go with the calling of their dreams. 

Those who had one shot at life and made it count, letting go of all the noise. So, fellow young people, go after your passion. Read, study, paint, click videos, build, earn, workout, write, travel, run, swim, fly, and whatnot – but never doubt and never stop. Let’s overcome this greatest challenge of ours. Let’s not bury our dreams, let’s go where it takes us. It’s scary and risky but living life itself is risky. If we take a risk to live then we can also take a risk to be alive.       

(Ghimire is a student pursuing higher education)