Only in the eyes of the teacher, parent and by-passer that we are deemed the worst students born into a generation that has had many worried sick.
This is the so called “2000” generation, the one that has been greatly prejudiced and suffering brutally from ethnocentrism.
All this is only because the society knows not what really goes on in our day to day lives.
The problems faced by us include aspects of our academic, social, mental, spiritual and intellectual lives. All these aspects contribute to different behavioural patterns in individuals.
Pressure of striving to strike a balance in all the mentioned areas has contributed to a painful decrease of will power to go forward.
Many are succumbing to peer pressure which is one of the major problems that result in unacceptable behaviour.
Alcohol and substance abuse has rampantly increased.
Statistics sadly show a rise in young people committing suicide.
Such individuals would have failed to live up to their model expectations, some feeling that life has not given them what they deserve or wished for.
Some are even engaging in sexual immorality that leaves them with sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies.
Some also face depression because of family dynamics and social cultural shock which generates feelings of being outcasts of our own social groups.
Many are quick to assume what our problems are.
They do not ask or observe what we are really going through.
As a result, some guardians and parents become a source of stress and thus influence our negative behaviours.
This is only because they expect too much from us by setting standards that are impossible to reach, whilst at the same time never awarding us opportunities to grow and blossom as individuals without constant wet blankets being thrown at us.
As if this is not enough, the Covid-19 pandemic happened.
This has yanked all our hopes and efforts.
However, amidst all these challenges that have fallen upon us we still fight to be the very best of ourselves because we are unique, talented, and bold enough to seek help.
We feel therefore there is need to rely on social circles that encourage us to come up with innovative ideas that will help us to realise and achieve our different potentials.
Schools social clubs must equip and enable us to share our problems and figure out ways to deal with them in a healthy and constructive manner.
We are children but we are capable of much, given the opportunities to shine because we are the future in the making.
Vanessa Chitura is an Upper Sixth student at Eveline High School in Bulawayo.
l Learners are encouraged to contribute to this column, which is part of the Zimpapers Junior Media Club.
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