Is The African Teenager Actually Irresponsible? The Pain Of The African Teenager

Contrary to the popular belief that African teenagers are lawless, wayward and lazy in comparison with the American teenagers, African teenagers are strong, determined, persistent, patient and most of all they never give up!

It is obvious that the African teenager is conscious of responsibility especially those from a poor background of which most backgrounds in Africa are poor. They want to fend for themselves and even shoulder the responsibility of their families but they lack guidance, opportunity and support. 

In developed countries, teenagers have a normal routine, an environment that offers them a platform to work, to earn and also start learning to be independent but all we see here is private sectors, small business owners trying to extort, over use and exploit teenagers for the stipends they pay them. In the process of trying to be responsible, many young people have lost direction in life and even their lives. 

Often times, they have good intentions which is to provide for themselves and their families but because of the environment they find themselves, all their effort seem to amount to nothing but frustration. With the pressure of lack, deprivation, intimidation and sufferings they face in their homes and in the society at large, they become so desperate to make money.

A young teenage girl whose mother can not afford sanitary pad every month goes in search for a job only to be taken advantage of by those irresponsible fathers and husbands out there who are suppose to be her boss. Soon, these naive teenager see nothing wrong in moving from one guy to another to meet her needs. She end up in prostitution just to make ends meet. 

Almost every one thinks the average African teenager is stubborn, useless and irresponsible.  Meanwhile, like every other innocent child out there so they are, until they taste the hostility and cruelty of the environment in which they live. Imagine a young teenage boy who wants to raise money for his tuition fee, he works very hard but at the end of d day or month his wages or salary is cut short for one flimsy excuse or the other and when he reacts the employer gives him this attitude of "what can you do?, who are you?" 

Such oppression and intimidation frustrates him and makes him hard, looking for ways to survive, succeed and revenge legally or illegally. Of which most young people have lost faith in anything legal especially in this part of the world, they say it does not work, the law is not binding, they do not defend and give justice to the poor when they need to.

Some of these teenagers who are now written off by many once had dreams to wipe away tears from their homes, to make life comfortable for their siblings and parents, to make the world a better place and many more. But as they launch out with such enthusiasm they end up used, traumatized, and they are left with no option but to accept the status quo.

The world outside their homes is not friendly at all, the systems are dilapidated and unfruitful, the people are selfish and brutal, there is no mercy nor love! Selfishness and greed has replaced kindness and empathy. There is no one to cry to for help! Justice is a thing of the past, it is missing in our contemporary days. The young wants to lay a foundation for the future but there is no ground to build on. 

To you out there who says the average African teenager is lazy and useless, are you an example for them to emulate? What contributions have you made in your own little way to encourage their young zeal, ensure they get justice, are rightly treated and given due respect? Have you shown kindness to anyone of them or you take advantage of them and treat them as slaves who have none to defend them? 

Every now and then you scream how useless everyone of them that has worked for you is, you elaborate on their flaws and take consolation in how hopeless they are. Meanwhile, your dealings with them is all about you and nothing about them, you don't give a damn if your business has to flourish at their own expense! 

They do a whole lot for you beyond what you pay them for but you never meet your own part of the agreement not to even talk of doing more. You feel they have no option, they are stuck with you so you can treat them as you want. Someone may ask "I'm I suppose to take up their responsibility?" No, but to an extent you have a part to play.

Your attitude towards them alone, goes a long way in encouraging or discouraging them in life, you are suppose to help build confidence in them and not talk them down. They need someone to believe in them and also give them affirmation but all you do is scold them & tell them how useless they are! They confide in you concerning their dreams and you discourage them, saying they have nobody to help them realize such dreams. 

Even when teenagers with no dreams come around you, why not help them become visionaries! Depression is all they get for working for you. More over, is it too much if you take them personal and treat them right, giving them much assistance as  you can to ensure they don't go wayward in life? This brings me to point out here one syndrome that has eaten deep into our society and it is destroying us, which is "no one looked after my well-being in my own time so, no one should expect me to look after his or her own well-being".

It pains me that even some parents are guilty of this, even in their dealings with their own children. Your father could not afford your school fees, as a teenager you had to do so many odd jobs to meet up and today you are doing well and can afford to pay your children's school fees without stress but you are not willing to take that responsibility with the excuse that they should learn to be independent that as a teenager you started fending for yourself against all odds. Meanwhile, a child learning to be independent is no excuse for a parent not to carry out his responsibility. 

To you the teenager, no matter how terrible your situation maybe, you still have a choice if you decide to succeed in spite of the unfavorable environment you are, you will succeed. If you will encourage yourself then, they cannot discourage you. If you can be focus, patient, tolerant and  diligent in no time you will rise above the mediocrity around you. For the fact no one is supportive, everyone is corrupt is no excuse for you to quit your dreams. 

In the midst of your struggles, stay focus, do not loose sight of the goal. No matter the sufferings and the intimidation take consolation in the realization of your dreams because you are not going to give up until your dream becomes a reality. Meanwhile, with or without examples you know what is right therefore, do it and be a role model for others to emulate. Against all odds strive to succeed!
GoodMorningFromIseme

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: