Wisdom Of Youth

This is a Pakpotpourri Exclusive

By: Sherbano Tajammal Hussain

If Youth were a man, he’d be a rather naïve young gentleman.
If Youth were a man, he’d convince himself that he knows everything, despite the fact that in his short-lived existence, he has seen nothing.
If Youth were a man, he’d believe that he would live on forever and ever—and that nothing, absolutely nothing, would tear him off from the face of this planet.
Why, if youth were a man, he’d be the most impressionable, vain and over-confident individual that one would ever come across in life.
Youth would be many things but one could never hope to find even a trace of wisdom in youth.
For the truth is, Youth is still at that stage in life where he is learning about the world in general.
He is not even a fully formed person yet.
He sets idealistic goals for himself, hoping to one day surpass his predecessors for surely, according to him, he can do what they did—only better.
As a man, Youth would be inspired.
Creative.
Determined.
Passionate.
But wise? No. Youth is too reckless, too immature, too foolish to be wise.
Honestly, though, can we blame Youth for being the way that he is?
No.
Adults, however, tend to view him with contempt.
For what does Youth know about life?
He is too gullible.
Naïve.
Inexperienced.
And utterly and hopelessly unexposed to the harsher realities of life.
Yet, the point which people tend to overlook here is that when one is young, one cannot possibly be wise! For Youth lacks experience and the true teacher of wisdom is experience!
The fact is, adults judge Youth harshly because they themselves forget what it was like to be young. They forget that they, too, had colossal dreams and aspirations stored in their hearts—dreams and aspirations which were so colossal that they seemed larger than life itself!
In the words of J.K Rowling, ‘’Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels but old men are guilty if they forget what it was like to be young.’’
Yes, Youth is not wise.
But should Youth be ashamed of this?
No.
Youth should embrace this period of foolishness and learn from his mistakes for learning from one’s mistakes is the true sign of wisdom.

The writer is a student of A Levels at a leading school in Lahore.She won a full scholarship from her school based on straight A’s in her O Level results.

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