“Don’t force your children into your ways, for they were created for a time different from your own.”—Unknown
We adults tend to forget that we were once children and young people. At some time, some of us, if not all of us, had many aspirations and wild dreams, but when we tried to share them with adults, they dismissed our visions and told us to come back down to earth. At times, others mocked us or even thought we were lunatics.
Our dreams and aspirations might not have been that exaggerated. They just fell on ears unprepared to hear them and hearts unready to receive them. How misunderstood and sad we could be. It was as if we came from another planet and had no place in an alien world. Many of us abandoned our lofty dreams for life. Or we became oblivious to them.
However, that we have forgotten or abandoned these dreams does not seem to be the saddest part of it. The genuine sorrow is this: as grown-ups, we forget those disappointments we experienced in childhood and youth and are inclined to force our limited views and perspectives on children and youths we meet now.
In many education systems and institutions, we are worshippers of the familiar, traditions, and mindsets that are questionable and seem better suited to an outdated age. Many of us were taught that adults knew better than young people, so we tend to dominate them instead of listening to them and trying to understand their aspirations and the kind of world they want to create and live in.
It is worthwhile that we adults remember that the future belongs to children and young people. We will not be there forever. It is our duty to guide and encourage the new generations to build the better world they dream of.
When we take time to listen to children and youths, we learn how they dream of lofty things and ways to make the world a better place. Sometimes, our overly strong egos prevent us from understanding what others are trying to share with us.
Children and young people deserve to be heard and listened to. They are as valuable as any other human being on Planet Earth. Whether at home, at school, or anywhere else, they deserve a listening ear. Listening to them never means opening the door to chaos. They deserve our respect just as we deserve theirs. We all need one another.
A better world begins with respect and compassion given freely to the most vulnerable, whether they are young or old. Maybe listening to someone is the highest form of respect and compassion we can show them. And in any encounter with a young person, we should honestly ask ourselves this question:
Am I genuinely listening to a worthy human being, or am I just trying to correct, judge, or direct them?
“Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will be big. Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds, and when they grow up, they will change the world.”—Jack Ma
A Note from the Author
It is in this spirit that I wrote Rise Gloriously: Empowering Words for Young People, a collection of poems and reflections intended to encourage young people to believe in their worth, discover their inner strength, and face life's challenges with courage and hope. Through this book, I hope to contribute, however modestly, to a world where young people feel valued, supported, and empowered to fulfill their potential.
