What has become of our youths?

As I walked into 7eleven just now, I was greeted by ruckus that can only come from teenagers. The undeniable shrieks and shouts with no regard for the other patrons of the shop. Yes, there they are, pushing, laughing, slapping each other playfully at the narrow aisle. I hope they are not my students, I thought to myself as I wedge past them to get to the refrigerator for beverages. I hope I don't hear the... ...urgh... no such luck. That phrase shot past my ears and conjured much annoyance in me. CB! CB!

Why? Why do people, youths especially, find it so easy to say these things at the slightest bit of provocation? When has it become so inoffensive to them? Then I was reminded that my friends use these phrases too and had even explained eloquently the why and the how of using them. The saving grace was that perhaps my friends do not use these phrases as loosely as the youths. I just had to grin and bear it. You can't do anything, ah goh, this is not your school. But already my ears are pricked, the incessant chatterings a menace to my inner peace. Get out of here fast.

I edge my way past them the second time, half wishing there was an alternative route. This time, the kids have finished dispensing coke into their Big Gulp cup, turning towards the queue. Just then, one guy exclaimed, "Wa! The queue is so long ! @#%* Don't want to buy already lah" and proceeded to walk back to the drinks dispenser. I was horrified, and I didn't want to turn back to confirm my suspicions. But I am pretty sure that he was going to pour the contents in the cup into the drain and walk out. It could only have been so.


Simply atrocious.

The ordeal lasted no more than five minutes but is enough to trouble me even this late into the night. What is becoming of our youths today? Or rather, what has become of them? Where is the respect, basic regard for others, civics and morals? Is it just a passing phase? True, some of these kids may eventually grow out of this gangster behaviour by God's grace, but there are many who don't. Every of those who fall through the gap into lawlessness is one too many. Is there something we can do about it? Is there something parents can do about it? Is there something that I as an educator can do about it? Definitely, I believe. Much as it seems like a losing battle against the evils of the world, I believe that each of us are empowered to make a difference.

See them through the eyes of Jesus. See them as precious children of God who need love as much as we do. See them as lost sheep roaming around in need of a Shepherd.

Jesus didn't die in vain. There is Hope.

~~goh~~