27/10/2024
We Don’t Need Lectures; We Need Mentorship (And Maybe a Nap)
It’s always the same story, isn’t it? You’re sitting there, minding your own business, maybe scrolling through your phone, and suddenly you’re bombarded with motivational videos on how to become the next Michelle Obama. So, you listen attentively, taking mental notes, inspired and ready to take on the world! Fast forward to the next morning—you wake up, and guess what? You’re still Atieno Nyar Ayueyo, not Michelle Obama. The motivation wore off somewhere between your pillow and the snooze button.
Here’s the thing: motivation is like cheap perfume. It smells good for a while, but after a few hours, the scent fades, and you’re left wondering if it was ever there in the first place. And don’t even get me started on those generic motivational speeches telling us, “You’re lazy, stop procrastinating, just do it!” As if becoming the next Obama is a matter of switching from Netflix to a TED Talk.
Let’s be honest here. We, the youth, aren’t lazy. We’re tired. Tired of being told to just “hustle harder” without any real, practical guidance. Tired of people rebuking us for not doing enough, but when we ask them how they made it, they shrug and say, “Ni God.” Yes, it’s God, we know that, but it wouldn’t hurt to sprinkle some practical advice in there too, would it?
The Missing Link: Mentorship, Not Lectures
We don’t need more motivational talks that get us all hyped up only to leave us more confused than before. What we need is mentorship—someone to take us by the hand and say, “Here’s how I did it, and here’s how you can, too.” We need someone to show us the ropes, the real ropes, not just these abstract ideas of “work hard” and “stay disciplined.”
Here’s the problem: Everyone is quick to say “youths are lazy.” Well, excuse me, we’re not lazy, we’re just trying to figure things out in a world that’s throwing curveballs left, right, and centre. We’re told to hustle harder, stop being lazy, wake up at 4 a.m., and magically become successful. But no one’s telling us how to actually make things happen.
You see, the difference between motivation and mentorship is simple. Motivation is like your hype friend telling you, “You can do it, you’re the best, go get it!” Great energy, but once the hype wears off, you’re still standing in front of a mountain, with no clue how to climb it. Mentorship, on the other hand, is like your wise friend who says, “Okay, here’s a rope, here’s where to put your foot, and let me show you how to climb this thing without breaking your neck.”
Stop Calling Us Lazy—We’re Trying!
The phrase “youths are lazy” gets thrown around like confetti at a wedding. And it stings every time. It’s easy to judge when you’re not walking in our shoes. Have you seen the job market lately? Have you tried navigating life with student loans, no connections, and endless expectations? We’re not lazy, we’re navigating a maze of obstacles that previous generations didn’t have to face.
Yet, we keep hearing how we’re too distracted by social media or how we’re not trying hard enough. But honestly, many of us are doing the best we can with what we have. And here’s the truth: practicality is lacking. People tell us to stop being lazy, but when we ask them how they succeeded, the answer is always vague: “Oh, you know, ni God.”
Yes, it’s God’s grace, but we also need to hear about the grind. The times they failed, the things they sacrificed, the real, practical steps they took. Otherwise, we’re stuck sitting here, thinking, “Maybe I’m not praying hard enough.”
Let’s Get Real
We need a reality check. Life isn’t about listening to motivational speeches on YouTube and then waking up a success. It’s about learning practical skills, having someone show you the way, and understanding that failure is part of the process.
The youth of today are not lazy; we’re just waiting for the world to catch up and offer us more than empty advice. We want real mentors, people who’ll show us how to move from point A to point B, without just yelling “work harder!” in the background.
So, the next time someone wants to give us a lecture about hard work, here’s a suggestion: How about sitting down with us, giving us real advice, walking us through the process, and maybe… just maybe… letting us take a nap afterward?
Because if we’re going to be the next Michelle Obama, we’re going to need more than motivation—we’re going to need mentorship, practicality, and, let’s be honest, a good night’s sleep.
By Mic Tyson
