The Young Shall Grow

The desire of the young to become adults is powerful.

To the youth, adulthood appears to be a season of freedom and enjoyment — a time to live boldly with grand dreams. They imagine marriage, a beautiful home, cars, delicious meals, and total independence. They picture a life where they sleep when they want, answer to no one, and move without restriction.

But before they realise it, they arrive. Diploma in hand, they begin National Service, internships, jobs, marriage, and parenthood. Suddenly, the tide shifts. The challenges come in waves — academic pressure, career uncertainty, identity struggles, and the harsh realities of survival.

They once dreamed of feasting on life’s finest, yet now they wrestle with bills, health concerns, heartbreaks, and responsibilities that never seem to end. They never planned for wrinkles, joint pains, or menopause.

The rosy picture of adulthood fades, revealing its true nature: not endless pleasure, but a lifelong test of resilience.

Many young people rush into life without a plan. Before they know it, they are old, preparing for retirement and wondering how quickly the years slipped away.

The body that once danced with energy now aches with every step. The dreams of youth, buried beneath the weight of survival.

Adulthood is not about meat and soups — it is about responsibility, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.

The young must learn this early, because when adulthood arrives, its lessons are swift and unforgiving.

“Growth is inevitable, but wisdom is optional.”