If equipped with as much knowledge as possible,
Youths will be able to advance confidently,
And make useful changes.
They are the pillars of the society.
The future should be occupied by them.

Unfortunately,
Most of the time, we concern ourselves with scores merely.
For the sake of marks,
We regurgitate without fully understanding.
Those inevitable competitions have also cultivated,
Vanity, jealousy and inferiority.
Until one day we only realise,
Attitude is the one deciding the altitude of life.
Academic excellence will be forgotten,
As much as the books displayed in school library.

We are lazy to imbibe extra knowledge,
Which is conducive to future self-development.
What are we doing then?
In social networking websites,
We spend time attacking others,
Throwing wet blanket over them,
And discouraging those who are in need.
Cyberbullying is constituted eventually,
As our words don’t build them,
But hurt instead.

Passion among the youth of today has ebbed.
Ambition becomes a ridiculous story to say so.
Seemingly we are struggling in ‘Eigenwelt’ (self-reflection),
Leading to failure to enhance interpersonal relationship,
As well as rejuvenate our society.

I think, therefore I am.
The fact we can think is what assures our existence.
As long as we prefer brainstorming to becoming spoonfed,
Being sceptical and rebellious about what we see and learn,
Is better than getting brainwashed without awareness,
By the authority.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,
But set an example for the believers in speech,
In conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 encourages us to work hard in any aspects.
So that our time will come,
At the heels of our perseverance.

Being humble while approaching knowledge,
And knowing that “pen is mightier than the sword”,
Are the keys for youths to succeed in occupying the future,
Especially in this riotous country as well as the world in general .

BESTON TAN YON CHIN is a student studying law in Malaysia.