It’s no secret that our young people are given a bad reputation by not only the media but society as well.
With the movie bully airing, the shooting of Trayvon Martin and countless other stories scrutinizing everything from their attire to behaviour, it is no wonder that the youngsters are suffering from mental illness, lack of confidence and self esteem issues.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t loosing some hope in them, after all why else would I dedicate my time and my life to keeping them on the path of righteousness.
Last week after speaking to a group of about twenty young women at Emery Collegiate High School in Toronto I realized that our young people have more sense than we give them credit for. This was a group of young women considered to be the “rougher” girls of the school, and as many of them sat there with arms folded across their chest I was certain that our message wasn’t getting across. Yet afterwards, a few young ladies approached. One an aspiring writer and poet with passion and drive. I saw in her a younger version of myself.
Then on Saturday while doing my workshop for the series Distinctly BeYOUtiful, a young twelve year old girl came in with more poise and sophistication than most adults I know. When asked about what she wanted to do when she got older her answer was simple – she wanted to be a dancer and actress. When asked what she would do if money wasn’t an object – she answered “make sure my family and friends are all taken care of and put money aside for school.” Here was a twelve year old with more sense than all of us there who had given answers like travel.
It is moments like these that reaffirm why I put so much blood, sweat, tears and love into what I do. There are so many young people that have the potential to be great if only we give them some guidance, some time and most importantly love and support.
I am a firm believer that it takes a community to raise a child, maybe that is why I feel such an overwhelming sense of pride when I see a young lady with drive and ambition. When I see a young, black man walk across a stage for graduation or when I meet young entrepreneurs who want to be more than rappers and video girls.
My children Your children Our children have the potential to be the next President, the next Prime Minister, the next world changer, but they cannot do it alone. We spend so much time when they are young helping them dress and potty training them and yet as they get older we often forget that the older they get the more they need our guidance against the many sins waiting out there to attack them when they’re at their weakest.
So my fellow parents, mentors, and teachers we can’t give up on them yet. Let us walk with them hand in hand, after all they are our future and if we’ve given up on our future we may as well keel over and die now.
xoxo
Elle
