Editor Amandala
Sir,
Good morning and may God bless. Our names are Danny Mai, and Terry Lung. We are currently 4th form students of Belmopan Comprehensive high school. We are writing to the editor to discuss “ setting the example and being role models.”
My friend Terry says, “As young people sometimes I am confused with elder people. When I was small my father always told me, don’t be like me, but be a successful person. You have to study hard to go to a good job for the future”. He also said, ” When you were born you first saw your parents. You grow up with care and a lot of love. You learnt things that your mom and dad taught you. It seems that mom and dad are like superheroes and know everything. But as I am growing up I see something different. There is no perfect person in this world.”
I personally didn’t have a father to raise and show me right from wrong. But thanks to a devoted mother, the knowledge of the Bible and the blessing from God of a kind heart, I know right from wrong. I am not just another youth from/on the street, getting either into trouble or into jail. Every morning my cousin and I walk the walkway from the Belmopan Market Square to our school BCS. Every person I pass, I say good morning to, and simply try to be as courteous as possible. My cousin also does the same. I feel proud that I have set the example for her. But sometimes I am discouraged, as when I pass and be courteous. Some elders hold their head straight in either a grumpy or upright manner. I often wonder if they had a bad morning, but I then think seriously. Is this the example that they’re setting for us youth today?
In reality, I don’t, or rarely see real gentlemen nowadays. Every time I ride a bus I find it very courteous to offer a seat to an old or female passenger. But it discourages me for me to be the one to get up and stand on my young bones. And when I look around the bus another old lady is standing holding on tightly to the chair as not to stumble, while a big man and other youths are sitting right beside them gazing through the window. Is this the example to be set in our country Belize? Where are the role models?
Message to my fellow youths: do the right and honorable thing and set the example to the next generation, even if it isn’t being set to you. Young men, we need to see more gentlemen around. I promise you, when a girl smiles back at you for good deed, her smile is a good reward. Step up as men and take the challenge.
Sincerely yours,
Terry Lung
Danny Mai