Dear me,
Days and months slips away, the future of our dreams is finally within reach. Knowing how hard you have bantered and struggled, for a future most consider to be impossible, hope you are have finally become the man of your dreams? A man of discipline and principles.
A lot were said about men and women from our neighbourhood, known for their nonchalant behaviours and attitudes. They were so energetic and passionate about making money with less effort. It was quite unfortunate to be born in such an environment, father and mother took it upon themselves, the responsibility of making their children better men and women. Regardless of their strict method and principles, they installed into our minds morals and ethics needed to become better humans.
Hope you still remember fathers' voice? his advice of the value of hard work. Despite having the possibility of acting the same way fathers in our neighbourhood were acting; drinking till sun down and lavishing every last penny they had on alcohol and prostitutes. Father took a different path, though he didn't earn much, working multiple jobs ain't easy but his mind was made of steel.
He made it his duty to shape us into men that will be worth of every penny spent, hope you still remember his words and lessons? his advice about the mentality of the "get rich quick syndrome" that has invaded the minds of every youth in the society, laying waste to their future like a disease. Men and women losing their life to illicit actions and event as a result of absurd desire and crazy drive for money, Hope fathers' teachings still echoes in your ears?
In order for us not to embark on the same path like other men in the neighbourhood, father spent his last penny sending us to the best private schools in town. Hope you remember how people laughed at him? saying, of what value is education? though they are not wrong totally, it has become an habit for young graduates in my neighbourhood, spending lot of money in school then come back to the neighbourhood, trying to be better men but doesn't work out as expected.
They search for jobs but the country doesn't make it any easier for passionate individuals. They have the skill and knowledge but with no significant connection to get job like the wealthy folks. Slowly their passion drift away, they become tired and restless, a victim of their own circumstance. Trying to uphold the little dignity they have left, to separate themselves from uneducated men and women from the neighbourhood, they go outside into the city searching for greener pastures, living their parents in a constant state of poverty.
Father knew of all these but yet still believes in the value of education, he believes strongly in the power of knowledge acquired from academic pursuits, due to his perception of education, he was treated like a clown among his friends, abandoned by the neighbourhood for his refusal to act like they do.
Despite their insults and offensive attitude, father tries to encourage and advice the youth about the usefulness of education and acquisition of skills but they pay no attention to his words. They prefer to get involved in gangs and cultism, endangering their lives and future, "money must be made" those were their words but at what price?
In twos and threes, young men and women started losing their lives, a consequence of their own actions, our neighbourhood becomes a burial ground for young pupils, who could have grown to become better young men and women but now a food for the termites. Hope you remember the sorrowful cry of their parents, as they lay their children down and set them off on a journey of no return.
Their cries echoes in the midnight, when reality finally dawned on their parents, realizing how they could have changed the future of their children, if only they made efforts like my father and mother did but they chose different. Now they are left with empty rooms, talking to the walls, overwhelmed by regrets and missing the absence of their children.
Few that listened to the wise words of our father and were fortunate to make it out of the neighbourhood like we did, now have their whole life to be grateful for the lessons taught by our father, though the future isn't fully here but from the progress we have made so far, I believe we are close to making our dreams a reality.
Just promise me a thing, you wouldn't forget the past and the lessons learnt from it, it might just be a memory but we owe all we are today to the past we both shared. If there is something we have learnt from the actions of the young men and women from our neighbourhood, it is that every action has a consequence, hope you are conscious of your actions? do not lose yourself like they did, I'm sure you are aware of the result.
Never stray away from the path of hard work, remember fathers' words "hard work is the foundation of every great man realization of their dreams". I know the path of hardwork is not easy, just like every young individual cherish luxurious items, I know you might too but remember the old saying, "all that glitters isn't Gold". let it echo in your mind as you lay on bed, let it become the bedrock of your thoughts along with our parents teachings
After getting this letter, be sure to take its words to heart, as I hope it will remind you of the past we share and create a future we both dream of. Father and mother are both well and fine as they will continue to be in the future. In case the future becomes tougher than expected, remember we always have a choice to chose right over wrong no matter what it takes.
In the hopes of seeing you again, some days, months, years from now, keep your head straight and your mind disciplined, there is a better future ahead.
This write-up was inspired by Indiaunited contest titled "A letter to my future self" in indiaunited community.
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