There’s a Dutch proverb that says that when hard work goes out of the door, poverty comes in at the window. This means that hard work is an antidote to poverty.
Hardwork starts from the background. From home training, parents need to instil the consciousness of hard work to their children. Children must be taught the importance of hard work in achieving goals, success, self-esteem, and so on. Parents must not only teach hardwork, but model the fact that hard work could be enjoyable and fulfilling. They also need to let their children struggle from the frustration level to the satisfaction level in any task they do. They need to build valuable expectations from their children, speak to them, and guide them regularly.
Unfortunately, some parents have done so well in nurturing good character traits in their children but society, peer pressure, media exuberance and other external factors have made youths of nowadays lazy, lacking ambition, self direction and self worth. There are obviously many red flags that clog in the wheels of good behaviour of youths of this generation.
Why do young people invest more in seeking shortcut success than working hard? Why is fame and wealth gaining more weight than hard work and loyalty? Why is the excessive quest for overnight wealth making more waves than skills, education, and experience? Why is contentment, patience, and passion being sacrificed on the altar of greed, laziness, and selfishness? Why are robbery, rituals, internet fraud (Yahoo), and prostitution (hook up) gaining more relevance in the lives of our youths? Why are the sources of sustainable wealth being threatened daily by these immoral and sinful activities?
Indeed, hard work has eluded this generation. Lack of self preparation and self-awareness has plagued the passion of our youths. Most graduates are unemployable not because there is no job but because they lack the preparedness of critical thinking and analytical mind expected of them as graduates. They indulge in fast-track means of survival from start to end of their school years. And as such, they desire top jobs, million dollar investments, luxurious lifestyles, and deplorable social media visibility. They are basically blinded by illusions, and their thoughts are beclouded by fake make beliefs, thinking that comfort and wealth could be gotten on a silver platter.
This massive hardwork-deficit has made genuine and lasting success look unattainable. Children and youths must realize that a solid foundation for success requires good education, a high skill set, self preparation, perseverance, and more importantly, hard work. All these spiced with prayer and good character make the road to success so smooth, lasting, and enjoyable.
To thrive in sustainable and peaceful wealth, children and youths must invest their time in good education, learn and sharpen their skills, prepare their minds towards their goals, persevere in tough situations, be diligent and committed to duties, and above all, be very prayerful. All these require hard work, and they must be committed to it in all ramifications.
BIBLE VERSE
Proverbs 12:11
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense
PROVERB
You cannot climb to the mountain top without crushing some weeds with your feet. Ugandan Proverb.
RIDDLE
This quality is a strong desire to achieve your goals. With determination and hard work, you will have it. What is it?
Amara Ann Unachukwu
