By Ezra Ayokanmi Emmanuel
24 January, 2025
Adolescence and youth are a period of awakening awareness for every individual irrespective of gender. So many physiological changes occur at this period of development and these changes lead to a heightened sense of self discovery and realisation. Each individual has their peculiar way of dealing with the sudden onset of physical maturity. From around age eleven and twelve certain physical attributes begin to manifest and these often lead to a shocking realisation of the differences between the genders.
Adolescence is the period of pubescence when the physiological changes begin to manifest anatomical changes which are less immediately apparent but are coterminously occuring. More and more the individual becomes aware of the other sex and behavioural patterns begin to reflect this new phase. Where we used to be carefree we begin to be reticent, coy and wary around those of the opposite sex. It is a time of exhilaration, of self discovery and esteem.
This phase, often between thirteen and twenty five, is characterised by a carefree attitude, zeal, drive, adrenaline pumps, boldness and flirtation with danger. Unencumbered by the cares of eking a living, the individual exhults in their youthful exuberance, safe in the comfort of their dependent status. But the honeymoon is mostly shortlived.
As adulthood sets in from around the age of twenty five, the individual beomes more acutely aware of their responsibilities, obligations, duties and the role they must play in the larger, broader scheme of things. Gone suddenly and without warning is the life they had come to be accustomed to and brought into sharp relief are the harsh realities of life outside the cocooned confines of their parents protection and provision. They now have to face the fact of having to fetch victuals for themselves and make preparations for the dependants that will soon come. For most, this is a sobering period.
The entirety of a person’s active life of economic usefulness is just about the span of time from age twenty to sixty five depending on the individual. Some begin to fend for themselves earlier and some for longer but it is universally acknowledged that this is the optimum period of strength for most people. From sixty five life seems to come full circle and the individual slides back into dependency.
In the HBO series Game of Thrones, Maester Aemon soliloquiesed that “Old age is a wonderful source of ironies; one watches as everything one strives for in their youth fade away right before their eyes”. Poignant and sobering reflections about the vanity of youthful exhuberance. Time inexorably takes everything from us. It takes beauty, fame, accomplishments, accolades, hatred, love, spouses, children, parents and even the youth that we so cherish, even life itself is taken from us. Old age is indeed a wonderful source of ironies.
Sadly, most individuals are so taken up with the present that they fail to take cognisance of the passage of time. This is reason why so many experience mid life crises which could have been avoided. Youthful vigour and beauty are things that should serve as a preparation for the inevitable degeneration of the body and the mind. Making optimal use of this period is sacrosanct for a life of bliss after retirement. Unfortunately, a lack of preparedness by some is the leading cause of mid life and late life crises.
The penchant of some when young to lead a carefree and risky life is reason why mid and late life is not as rosy as should be. Engaging in risky behaviour such as drinking, smoking, drug abuse, financial profligacy, irresponsibility, procrastination, dishonesty and such are precursors to a latter life of pain, anguish, regret and gnashing of teeth.
The way the world is presently structured is not helping matters in this regard. Pecuniary considerations without commensurate work is the order in most parts of the world. Coupled with this is the international system that is so lopsided in favour of some regions. Again, the leadership question comes into play in the most vulnerable and exploited countries of the world. These have all impacted negatively the moral basis of society as we know it today.
The problem of the youth element of today is their almost collective amnesia about the inescapability of old age and its debilitating effects. As they exhult in their youthfulness most fail to grasp that time is not their friend. Each day we grow older means we have less time to spend in this physical vale. And as time slowly evaporates so does all the things that we exhult in, especially youthfulness and beauty, vibrancy and vigour.
The point being stressed is not that youthfulness and beauty are bad. What is up for consideration is how these attributes are being put to use. Youth and beauty are advantages to be corraled for the advancement of the individual within his community. We ought to go through youth with the consciousness of our place in the advancement of humanity. By deepening our understanding of what our role in society is we are better placed to impact community for the benefit of those following.
The onus is however not entirely on the youth to know their place and role in society beyond exuberance and flaunting beauty. The older generation has to place a high premium on moral education and upholding of societal standards of behaviour. Ethics and etiquette must be handed down to the younger generation so that they realise quickly that their life should not be consumed by prancing about as Prima Donnas, but that they have much greater obligations than being show offy. Any society that loses touch with its stories has lost the plot in the comity of societies. It is the stories handed down to the young that enables them see beyond the razzmatazz of social media, partying, drinking and all sorts of antisocial behaviour mostly associated with youth.
Youth ends quicker than most of us are prepared for, beauty fades faster than we anticipate. What endures are the lessons we learnt along the way, the teachings we imbibe as we go on. These are the life lessons that endure after youth ends and beauty fades. These lessons, handed down via stories of the exploits of our ancestors, the triumphs of our conduct and perseverance of our society, are the fiber our youth require to endure what life will inevitably throw at them. These are things that the fickleness and fleeting passage of youth and beauty may not be able to give.
