The members of the older generations in every society appear to lament the circumstances and behaviour of the young people they observe around them. Not only are the fashions different, their music is always noisier, their manners much reduced and their maturity nowhere near it was in our day.
Knowing that this has been a universal concern recorded through time in the written records of almost every literate, society points to two logical conclusions. Either humanity is going to hell in a hand cart, or despite themselves young people eventually grow up and become as reliable and responsible as we are, or remember ourselves to be.
Personally, I have a lot of confidence in NZ’s young people. Working in education shows you daily, the remarkable potential and attributes of our young people. Added to which I have also had the privilege of leading young New Zealanders overseas on operational missions on our nation’s behalf and watching our young adults, often only 2 or 3 years older than most of those pictured in school photographs, quietly and competently making a difference which is a rare honour.
Inevitably the future that our young people will occupy will be different to now, and very different to our day. We are also familiar with the various forecasts including things such as a single currency – or even closer political union with Australia, the blurring of the difference between what is ‘real’ and what is a ‘digital image’, and retiring at or beyond 70 years of age, as futurists try and contextualise the possible for the rest of us.
What isn’t always clear is how much today’s world for our young people has changed markedly from the time their parents were the same age. Essentially important decision making and complexity have been brought to a younger age. Getting a bank loan at 17 was once a rarity. Today there is an entire industry based on getting young people into debt for cars, consumer goods, and between paydays.
Those of us who work with young people, be it in education or sport, cannot change the world they live in. Nor would they necessarily want us to. But we can, and we do, make a significant difference.
Like many, on my office wall I have one or two slogans for myself. Prompts that remind me of what I believe matters most in my job. One of these is “The most important thing we do is grow fine young people.” I firmly believe we do this by building on and using all of the fine qualities and characteristics that our young people bring with them, including their natural enthusiasm, energy, their interest in what is going on around them, and their strong sense of natural justice.
By providing the positive environment and interactions availed through sports; through the development of skills and qualities learnt in a team setting; and the growth of character and personality of practice and competition those who coach, manage and lead our sports teams and clubs are all making a significant difference.
Many of our cricket coaches, managers, officials and supporters may not see the wider role they and the game of cricket have. They may simply see themselves as developing or supporting young players, and not fully appreciate how they are also developing young people.
The Willows is a unique and wonderful entity. In recognising the value of cricket across generations and the importance of sharing the traditions and ethos of the game with secondary youth, it is also playing an important role in developing and growing our young players as people. In teaching and imbuing our young players with the traditions and ethos of cricket we provide them not only with a sense of legacy and pride, but also with handrails for the future.
And in doing so The Willows is helping to grow fine young people.