Problems, Thoughts and Concerns

Initially, I would like to point out that, because of age, we sometimes feel oppressed, other times very sad, and still other times angry, because no one understands us. Yet, we dream and imagine a very beautiful tomorrow…

This is not necessarily bad, because if young people with such feelings and dreams did not exist, then the world would not advance nor develop.

 On the negative side, however, in dreaming many dreams and believing that we can make them happen, we sometimes go overboard and believe that we are omnipotent.

From my personal experience, such a situation can lead you to surpass yourself and create something "good," or accomplish nothing and be disappointed.

We expect a lot from ourselves. Some stay with the "sure thing" and don't look any farther, even if they have the capabilities; others, without evaluating themselves, without even knowing what it is they want precisely, continue to "dream," "want" and "ask," but do not seek, in order to materialize their dream. So, when that wish is not realised, they get angry and disappointed and sometimes fall apart.

I will speak about my personal experiences, because I am sure that all readers my age have lived through similar ones.

By attending the Iraklion School of Arts in Gournes, I know a lot of kids who want to be involved professionally with dance, the theatre or painting, and wish to finish in either a public or private institution.

A friend, multitalented, with a vast knowledge of artistic subjects and a lot of possibilities, wanted to take the entrance examinations for the Institute of Fine Arts in Athens, and, I must say that his passing probabilities were high. This year, his last year at the lyceum, he doubted himself, abandoned all his labours and the work he had done and decided to pursue something else. None of his friends pressured him or voiced any objections, because, as he put it: "This is what I like, this is what I want to do…"

He seemed so cheerful and sure about his new decision. After some time, we talked about this, and he, tired from listening to the comments from his disappointed parents who wanted him to become a painter, he confided that actually his dream was to follow the art. And when asked why all the difficulty, he answered that he didn't have the confidence that he would pass and was afraid of rejection. He preferred to "make do" in the other profession because he knew he could ace the entrance exams. He was afraid for himself and that he would disappoint his parents IF he was rejected. Surprised by what he said to me, because I didn't expect these words from someone who showed (I thought) self-confidence, I asked: "But you speak with an "IF"! Do you really want for the rest of your life to regret what you didn't do . . . didn't even attempt to do because you chose the easy way and opted for the "sure thing?" Why are you so afraid of rejection?"  He listened carefully and I believe he revised his thinking.

In closing this column, I conclude that an adolescent many times will opt for the sure thing without even looking farther. Or, he or she thinks as a superhero and then is disappointed. Both of these cases result in diminishing the psychological make-up of the young person. Of course, many other factors contribute to this situation. One is the parents that bombard their children with their "own" wants, expectations and wishful thinking and hinder them from making the right decision. Many kids do make decisions about their future while still in their teens. And it's a very important one because it involves our future in business and in life.