The insights shared by the young people during the vocation convention in Antipolo jibed with the result of a research done by McCann Erickson in October 2005. They entitled their research "The Youth and the Holy: Staying in Touch." That research was triggered by the ongoing struggle to recruit vocations to the religious life. The Manila Archdiocesan Vocations Office (MAVO) commissioned the research to see why there seemed to be the youth's disinterest in service. It also asked why the tactics employed did not elicit an overwhelming response in contemporary times. There came the desire to investigate the seeming unattractiveness to the religious vocation. The research hoped to accomplish a better understanding of the context in which teens in our times choose their courses and career paths, their perceptions of the Church and the religious vocations, and the barriers between the youth and the priests/nuns/brothers.
The research began with taking a look at the long term dreams of the youth which starts from the harsh realities of life. It can be said that today's times are hard and it is very real to the youth. Many of those interviewed said: "Malimit ko pong naririnig mag-away ang mga magulang ko tungkol sa pera." / "Dati po 100 piso ang baon ko. Tumaas na nga ang lahat ng gastusin, binawasan pa ang allowance ko...70 pesos na lang ngayon." (My parents would always fight about money. / Before I had an allowance of 100 pesos. Now, even if after everything has become expensive, my allowance still went down to 70 pesos.) Almost all of them experience parental absenteeism. The "dual-income families" have become the norm. Thus, "kanya-kanya na sa bahay" (each to his own). The lack of good employment opportunities has forced many parents to work abroad and most of the youth whose parents have worked in other countries even feel guilty that they are the ones causing the "break-up" of their families. Parental role has now evolved -- parents has become friends and confidantes, as much as they are nurturers and guides. Thus, the teens feel and even greater longing for the presence of their parents. Dreams of prosperity thus emerge and it comes as no surprise that they strongly aspire to reverse their family's plight. This reality is stronger for the high school teens whose dreams of becoming a professional and working abroad seem more pronounced.
When asked how they see themselves 5 to 10 years in the future, their top five answers were the the following: famous, moneyed, altruistic, global citizens and having a family. Thus, they begin to chart their course. For them, preparing for the future begin with choosing the right course in college. They choose courses that will ensure their marketability (e.g. nursing, technical courses, advertising, HRM, etc.) They would continue to say that financial success is their way of "repaying" their parents for their sacrifices for the family. Although they admit that money cannot buy happiness, it serves as an enabler to achieve a better quality of life. Thus it has become quite common for the youth to say: "You need money so that you can buy everything that you want." / "Of course, when you start your own family, you would want what is best for them." / "How can you give to others when you yourself have nothing at all?"
The Youth Want Real Achievements
Achieving success is in the hands of the youth. They persevere in their studies and keep themselves in check. Those interviewed have voiced out these comments, "Hindi muna dapat magpadala sa impluwensya ng barkada." / "Hindi muna puwedeng ma-in-love." / "Iwasan muna ang puro bulakbol." (I cannot allow myself for the moment to be influenced by my peers. / I can't fall in-love yet. / I can't just gallivant and not do anything productive.). They know their resources allow them only one chance to achieve their dreams. But this does not stop them from having fun and finding fulfillment in their present life. They know they can still enjoy themselves for as long as they keep their balance -- like hanging out with their peers, keeping up with the latest trends, exploring and mastering new technologies, and admiring their famous media idols here and abroad. Others have started to make a difference now. Thus, it has become common for some of the college teens to have found fulfillment in reaching out to people and helping society. There are those who would even say, "Before, I would always ask myself why the government doesn't do anything right? But when I joined Gawad Kalinga, I thought to myself that instead of useless talk, I would rather do something productive." / Before, I thought of settling abroad since I don't see any hope in our country. But when I saw what I can be capable of doing, I started to see things differently."
This positive experience has resulted in a reversed perception that an individual can barely make a difference. It also negates the belief that our society is a hopeless case. A sense of personal empowerment also comes about. Overall, two clear portraits ensue: (1) The Fun-Seeking Teens who wants the freedom to explore various interests; who is always ready for challenges; and the highly impressionable youth, and (2) The Take-Charge Teen that is strong-willed and says "the future is in my hands." For this young person, nothing is impossible when the mind is set and does not want to feel confined to limited choices or possibilities.
(To be continued...)
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