Weygan-Allan: Modelling avoids wasted potentials

ARE there really wasted potentials? This seems to be the question of grandparents, aunties and uncles as they watch the generation of today not using their full potentials. This week, I have a house guest from Singapore, who has been to the Cordilleras in mid 1990s as a missionary.

She has visited common friends. She met their children who are now adults in their 20 to 30s. Some are married but still living with their parents, some working but most are not or are in between jobs and are looking for work.

So this has been the focus of our discussion and prayer points. I shared to her that I am a volunteer facilitator in the barangays as I meet Parents Teachers Association (PTA) discussing how to recognized unacceptable behavior of children and how to encourage positive behavior.

There is actually a band called Wasted Potential from Atlanta, Georgia.

Potential is the quality or capacity to becoming successful. Wasted because this potential is not being harnessed towards success. Wasted potential because some millennial are wasting their opportunity to utilize today’s technology, mobility and access to resources, which were not there during the time of the past generation.

The advanced technology and the opportunities brought about by easy travel speaks of wider opportunities but according to these children aged 30 or so are so scared to cut the heads of their demons and bad experiences of the past to tackle the challenges of these times.

So they stay in their parent’s home, sleeping and taking odd jobs that are temporary without any plans for the future or simple dreaming.

Dreaming of success and not taking the horns of obstacles and become successful. It is indeed frustrating watching them. They have been full time students, graduated and have great experiences and then all of a sudden get so complacent because they can go back to mom and dad and they have a roof over their heads and food on the table. What a waste of potentials.

Now, this generation produced in the region; the high statistics of teenage pregnancy, the frequency of single parents, the rising cases of domestic violence reflective of the parenting, the educational system, media and what have you. These young adults are wasting their time finding fault with other people and not looking at themselves. They are wasting time chasing dreams that are simply puffs of clouds instead of getting their hands dirty and focusing their mind on matters that utilizes their capabilities and becoming productive citizenry.

Now if this generation is a wasted potential, what will we expect of the next generation? The kids of today? As I go visit the barangays and sometimes speak on opportunities of addressing the parents teachers associations, I emphasize of the role of modelling. What children see, they will remember and follow. And if the future generation are not taught what is right and wrong, not taught about discipline – a matter of yes and no (not maybe) then we will lose them too.

So the young parents of today should be included in re learning responsible parenting. They cannot change their past, but they can change the future – their future and their children’s future. They complain that their children do not obey and have tantrums, so parents should start focusing on enhancing positive behavior. Give rewards for good behavior and punishment for bad. We can no longer inflict physical harm but punishment may mean “lesser play time, early bed, loss of tablet or viewing privilege and many more. Let your yes be yes and your no be no and the children will understand. Let it be emphasized that the responsibility of this generation is to prepare the next generation. We simply are not here to live on our own; we have a greater responsibility for the future.

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 God said, ”Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, “Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children”