Covid-19 scourge: Youth facing an uncertain future

Today is International Youth Day and, for the first time in recent memory, the world is getting a taste of what it means to be a young person facing an uncertain future.

I grew up to the refrains of “the youth are the leaders of tomorrow” and “we are the future”. I was reminded that the decisions I made then would determine my fate.

In primary school, I could only dream and hope that my dreams would come true. You may still hear the echoes of the old dreams in the voices of primary school leavers: “I want to be a pilot”; “I want to be a doctor”; “I want to be a neurosurgeon”.

In high school, and in my teenage, I finally confronted a semblance of choice. The subjects I chose could have a real impact on my career. I chose power mechanics over agriculture; I thought it cooler to be an auto engineer than a farmer. I also chose geography over history since I didn’t see the sense of memorising old dates.

Had to score highly

After high school, it turned out the choices had little effect on the next stage of my academic life. If I wanted to be an engineer or doctor, it didn’t matter whether I had an A in physics or biology; only the overall grade mattered. I had to score highly even in Kiswahili and religious studies.

It was upon arrival at the university that cracks emerged in the narrative I had been living. An engineering or medical class had the same indiscipline and lack of focus as ‘backbenchers’ in high school. The top grades had gotten us a seat in the room but only personal discipline could turn this “career path” into a fruitful journey.

What young people need is real inclusion, active engagement and meaningful involvement in life, career and even government policy decisions. They are the ones to live with these choices long after the older generation has retired.

Mr Kariuki is communications lead at the Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa (Naya). [email protected].