Feature - youth in their communties

The young and the restless

Compared to previous generations, the youth of today are so different. Different by the way they talk, the way they walk and also in their style of dressing. What youths previously called fun, are clearly thoughts of the past.

Blayne Davids is from a suburb next to Florida known as Discovery. As a youth, he has his own look on how youths of this generation choose to have fun, drugs being the worst decision. Since Blayne is a youth, he has his own type of enjoyment, “I’m at my happiest when its chilled. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a wild party but fun for me is a small group of people. Some drinks, some smoke, just chilled vibes.”

 Blayne admits that his parents would not approve of all the things he chooses to do for fun but on the other hand he is quite honest with his parents “ I always let them know where I am and what im doing, some details are just left out.” Compared to other youths, Blayne feels that his type of fun doesn't really differ, “ I’m not about this Cosmos and GQ vibe people be on”, Blayne sees himself as a hippie and believes that it’s all about being yourself.

Living in this generation Blayne is exposed to many things that his parents, at his age, would never have even dreamt of being exposed to. The way the youth choose to enjoy themselves today is usually by partying but going to the extent that there’s a need for alcohol and other mood enhancers, to enjoy themselves at the highest level. “Everyone is on this turn up lifestyle. I’m not against having fun but western culture is indoctrinating us, giving us a very materialistic view of what fun is. A positive I guess, is that it provides an outlet for reckless youth energy.”

Valasen Chetty is a community leader and is always involved with the youth. Compared to his days, the youth don't know how to be youths anymore, “ the youngsters today are very fast compared to my time. They don't listen to their parents and always want to have the last say. You don't find them playing outside like we used to.”

Valasen describes the youth as being arrogant, he believes that getting involved in the wrong company is very common with this generation and the worst thing they end up in is drugs. Not all youths are the same, even though they have fun in different ways, todays youth know what they want and are headstrong which gives them the drive to succeed.

 Times are changing and no one wants to stay the same forever, we keep evolving in terms of technology and the way in which we think. Valasen still remembers climbing trees and playing hide and seek where as Blayne simply feels that chilling is part of having fun. It is a vast difference to the past because what was fun then, is boring now and what was a wrong thing to do then, is enjoyment now. The world is changing and so will the generations to come. What we call fun and enjoyment now, will possibly change in the years on the horizon.