The Life of a Youth Leader

Friday, 10 February 2012 07:45

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

It’s such an agony and I feel such disappointment hearing the passing of a fellow youth leader, Niel Lim. At 27, I feel that his brilliance and work is still very much needed by our country. I feel that the country and the world lost another man who has so much wisdom to contribute and share to the rest of humanity.

It’s unfortunate that he was not able to see the fruits of his labor. And for the many who’ve fought gallantly and perished, it seems that their determination was not enough to see through the milestones they have hoped for in their lifetime. This makes the work of a youth leader hard, depressing and extremely difficult- to a point that you already lose a part of yourself in the process of pursuing change, and that death is the perfect cheat and escape from this entire troublesome journey.

Let the truth be told- Young people have grown tired and weary of politics and civic engagement. And since the older generation has found ways to excuse themselves from this brim reality, they often devolve the task of changing the country’s fortunes to young leaders, whom they claim has the capacity to connect more with their own generation. Youth leaders are now bestowed upon the responsibility to attract them back to participate and be involved. The task at hand is exhausting, frustrating and it is even more heartbreaking to find out that most of the time, no one is listening; no one is heeding the call for action and more so, we only have a handful of young people who’d even know what we’re talking about.

The pursuit of change has been laborious, and taxing. Sleepless nights, endless thinking and 100% effort does not guarantee you a positive outcome. Often, the intelligence, dynamism and creativity exhibited by young leaders in proposing and lobbying programs and policies mean less to traditionalists who are boxed in their own self-made ideologies.

Young leaders, no matter how young they are in life, no matter how much punishment their body can take, no matter how energetic they are perceived to be, are also consumed by the world’s stubbornness and resistance to change. The more appropriate term to use is that we also get burnt out.

But given that few we are in this world, we cannot afford to succumb to sickness or disease- one that would ultimately lead to our demise. We just cannot afford to lose the few that we have, because the people that we lose are not easily replaceable. This is such a tough feat to accomplish because in this exercise of patriotism, we also lose a sense of our youth and a greater sense of self.

Like any other youngster, we also have a family, we also have a social life, and we also have our own kinks in the armor. Yet, it seems that most of our time is well spent in the service of others. In the process, we don’t get to spend much time with our families as others do, get to socialize and catch up with good old friends; and we cannot afford to fool around and do stupid things without serious repercussions in mind.

Yet, most of us do not get credit for what they do, and most of the time, old peers hardly notice us, youth leaders, when it is not election time.

But given the Filipino Youth’s resilience and indomitable spirit, one word we don’t recognize in our vocabulary is “quit.” We live by the Filipino adage, “As long there is life, there is hope” (“Habang may buhay, may pag-asa”)

And so I come with great resolve to write this article dedicated for a befallen comrade and to the many who continue to fight for our future.

This article goes out to every young leader out there who refuses to believe that the country is a hopeless ground for change. This article goes out to young leaders who go against the trend of negativity we are being exposed to in Philippine Politics

Never lose hope, because the world needs valiant young men like you. Never die, because the hope of a better country is pinned on your capacity to toil day in and day out to make this place a better world and home to live in.

There are braver, smarter and more spirited young leaders out there than myself on the ground- teaching, educating and advocating for reform in this country. Regardless of the nature of differences we have in political ideologies, I will always look up to you, for you are the foot soldiers of the change we all say on television, we all write about and we all aspire for our country.

You have dedicated so much of your life for this noble cause. You have sacrificed the convenience of a normal teenage life to be a great influence to our constituents. You have given your country hope that there are still people who genuinely care and love our nation and its people.

You have given the Filipino Youth’s dream a chance to be fulfilled, and you have given us more reason to work even harder in the course of our battle in pursuit for a better future, a future common to both young and old- for the love of the Filipino people, our country and God.

=Postscript=

Niel, you have fought the greatest fight for the country and you have given all your friends, and even me, an acquaintance, the opportunity to hear such brilliance from a man who has worked hard for the youth. It is now time for the people you have touched, to respond to the challenge you have left, with your departure.

Pray for us, the few, young leaders that this country have, to endure and live on, so that from up there, in heaven, you will see the fruits of your labor.

To you and the many young leaders who have come and gone in this world- thank you… The fight is not yet over, for a better and brighter Philippines…