Motivating the young

ONE very gratifying task I do is talking with young

people, usually those in the school where I work, and being given the

chance to help them in some way. It’s amazing that just by inviting

them for a short chat, they would already feel very happy and

grateful. And that’s because they actually have a lot to share, if

not, unload.

  

            I realize that many of them have not had the chance of

having some kind of serious talk where serious matters and issues are

brought up. They may appear cheerful and carefree, but many of them

actually bear some heavy load inside their heart. They actually need

an outlet to vent their suppressed fears, doubts, etc.

  

            They feel relieved that they, at least, are being given

some attention, are listened to, and are helped to sort out things

that have been bothering them. In fact, many of them would say they

feel lighter after the chat.

  

            It’s on these occasions when things are clarified, since

the young people usually tend to exaggerate matters of little

importance while belittling, if not ignoring, those that have crucial

consequences. The challenge is how to make them see what are essential

in life and what are simply incidental and instrumental. Many times,

they confuse and reverse the two. Also they have to be taught about

the proper sense of priorities.

  

            It’s a task that requires a lot of patience and

consistency. Follow-ups are necessary, since many of them would get

enthusiastic only at the initial chat but would soon lose interest in

the succeeding ones. Often they are held back by their misplaced sense

of fear and shame.

  

            In this regard, it is important that some degree of

friendship and confidence to the point that they feel at ease in

opening up, is established as early as possible and kept and developed

along the way. They need to feel reassured always.

  

            They need to be helped to know themselves better. They

usually are quite aware of their strengths since they would simply

enjoy them. It’s their weaknesses that they usually are not too

familiar with. And if they know their weaknesses, they usually do not

know how to handle them. This is where they need help.

  

            Of course, the dealings have to be such that they would

always feel understood and respected as they are, warts and all. If

suggestions and corrections have to be made, they have to be done

gently and in the proper time. They should always be made to feel good

and encouraged even if some scolding is made.

            There are, of course, a great variety of young people. And

each one actually is a unique case. But the challenge is to identify

the area where each one needs help. That’s because they may project

many good qualities about themselves but often turn a blind eye on

their weaknesses. They often do not know where the dangers lie given

the way they are.

  

            Thus, it is important that each is considered in our

prayer so that the objective light of Christ can really show how each

one is. It cannot be denied that I, for example, have my own biases

and prejudices that can cloud the proper assessment of persons and

things. We have to be guarded against these biases and prejudices.

   

            Thing is it would always be good if we could help the

young by motivating them to develop as fully as possible their

potentials, suggesting and, if possible, opening new horizons for

them, helping them make some kind of roadmap for this full

development.

   

            In this regard, we can never say that we can reach the

acme of their development and that there can never be some errors

along the way. What is important is that the young people can learn to

fly on their own, so to speak, and would know what to do in any

situation they may find themselves in. What is important is that they

mature!