The Despair of the Unknown

In-school learning and physical classroom attendence is an important social protective net.Young people find solace and relationship in the conducive environment of school.They learn to interact and learn to lead but also learn to follow in a way that results in success.The well being of young being in the school environment is usually tilted for the better when they physically attend lessons.School has important amneties that provide for physical, social and emotional well being such as clubs and sports activities. Schools have increasingly provided safe access to knowledge by pooling resources to help young people access the internet.Now most of our young people have stretched at least close to 6 months without attending physical formalized classes and the truth of the matter is that parents and society need to take a concerted effort in the management of young peoples well being to help mitigate the negative out of school experiences.The despair of the young is becoming all the more palpable.Young people have become disillusioned about what the future holds.The despair is derived from the fact that the structures and systems that young people have become so reliant on are clearly failing against the onslaught of Covid -19 repercussions.No one is talking about the future- instead young people see family and national structures fighting fires instead of creating safe buffer Zones.Young people have been literally left as if orphaned -those in exam classes cannot believe how their high hope’s have suddenly turned into disillusioned nightmares without an end in sight. The solace of school and the comfort of successful grades is no longer a guarantee of a percieved successful future.Young people feel let down by our passivity as parents , mentors and institutions. Surely we could have done more to prepare their dreams for such a crash landing , better still there might be yet time to turn the rudder and steady the ship before it sinks. It is imperative that both public and private institutions develop blueprints of how the young people will move forward post Covid-19. It is possible that we are now grooming a potential generation of young people with emotional and mental challenges stemming from a despairing of hope and a disappointment of generational proportions.A generation delving into an abyss of the unknown creating patterns of utter disillusionment.The despair and disbelief is all too clear in the unspoken gazes of their eyes as they seek solace from their surroundings but alas there is not much hope in the institutions long deemed protective social nets. Wither the young?