WHO IS A YOUTH

WHO IS A YOUTH?

The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (New 7th Edition) defined a youth as a person who is young especially the time of life between a child and an adult. In other words it is an intermediary between childhood and adulthood. The Webster’s New Encyclopaedic Dictionary (the revised edition) added that youthful period is a time of life marked by development. Youth is the very one thing that never returns. It is a very temporary state of affairs and must be treated with every seriousness and hard work because an idle youth makes a needy old age.

            A youth is not only one who has biologically and physically developed. Although to some extent, it is growth inclined, but to a greater extent, it goes beyond natural phenomena. The Holy Bible rightly put it: “Remember the Lord in the days of your youth (Eccl. 12:1).” The youthful period is the most vibrant and energetic time one can serve God. A youth is one who has the fear of God in him. He is humble and has self-control. The book of Sirach (Sir 48:30-311) made it clear:

“Do not be controlled by your lust; keep your passions in check.

If you allow yourself to satisfy every desire, you will be a joke

to your enemies (Sir 48:30-311).

            It is saddening today that most youths do not know who they are. The real concept of youthfulness has been misconstrued and underrated. They see life in the spirit as a thing of old age because they have one or two things to ‘tidy.’

                A youth does not disobey his parents or authorities at

               school.“Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your

              parents, for this is the right thing to do. “Respect your

             father and mother,” is the first commandment that has a

             promise added: “so that all may go well with you and you

           may live a long time in the land.” (Eph.:6:1-3).

Time has come for people, especially the youths to understand that maturity as attributed to youthfulness is not just development of coarse and deep voices in males; or shrill and soprano voices in females. It is not all about developing beards. It goes far beyond accumulation of muscle. Maturity goes with common sense. There are people who are up to twenty-five(25) years of age but still behave like children of ten (10). Such people are not youths. Maturity and common sense have bigger roles to play. Many of them are found in the tertiary institutions that are just there for jamboree; wasting their parents’ money and resources on frivolities. Some marriageable ones have nobody to price them, not that they have no suitors, but because they lack the status quo.

            The question still remains, who is a youth?”The answer is in your Modus operandi. A stitch in time saves nine. The earlier one answers this question, the better for him. The indiscretions of our youth are the happy memories of our old age. Common sense consists of the prejudices laid down in our youth.