| "The greatest battles of life are fought out every | | | | chose to bypass post-grad and either take a detour |
| day in the silent chambers of one's own soul." - David | | | | overseas or head straight into the wonderful world |
| O. McKay | | | | of work. They chosen to do the unthinkable by |
| Man, the world has problems. Fifty years from now, | | | | listening to that inner voice in the hope it would lead |
| society will look back at our generation and forever | | | | them to brighter days. |
| shun us for three things: curable diseases, avoidable | | | | There's a lesson in there I'm finally starting to |
| wars, and reality TV. How could they let those things | | | | understand. Yes, the world has problems, but all |
| happen? How could they have actually stood by and | | | | those can wait. The biggest problem we have is |
| let those things happen? Having grown up in | | | | letting problems become problems in the first place. |
| post-apartheid South Africa, it's a question I've | | | | The biggest problem we have is allowing small |
| always asked myself. How on earth was that allowed | | | | concerns to slowly morph into crises; so much so |
| to happen for so long? Didn't the rest of the world | | | | that we're constantly caught off-guard by what we |
| realise what we were going through? Didn't they | | | | thought would never happen. |
| care? | | | | All around us, the evidence is clear. We pretend the |
| That question became increasingly relevant in daily | | | | problems we have don't exist. We sweep them |
| varsity life. I recall a general sense of despondency | | | | under the rug to deal with another day or engage in |
| among my classmates towards the end of our | | | | just enough "quiet diplomacy" (um, oxymoron?) to |
| degree. I guess we'd all grown a little tired of the | | | | assuage our guilt. We take part in flash mobs or |
| dreary world of studies and what looked set to be | | | | water balloon fights on campus even though they |
| rather dreary professional lives. And being reminded | | | | were barely passing their courses. We pretend to be |
| of that fact five days a week wasn't helping. | | | | happy in their jobs or in their relationships even |
| Everyone dealt with that in different ways. Some | | | | though they were secretly dying inside. But of course |
| convinced themselves (rightly or otherwise) that a | | | | it's okay because the last thing we want to do is |
| career as a corporate automaton, working | | | | change. |
| twelve-hour days plus weekends, was a prospect | | | | We do whatever we can to cover up the pain |
| they were excited to pursue. Others simply decided | | | | because feeling uncomfortable is something to be |
| that after almost four years, it was a little late for | | | | avoided at all costs. Sometimes it's necessary to |
| second thoughts. They might as well accept their | | | | laugh at our problems, but sometimes it's not. |
| fate. | | | | Sometimes we don't want to see the fuzzy panda |
| And then there were those who did something else | | | | bears at the end of the every news bulletin or have |
| altogether. They decided that enough was enough. | | | | the good guy win yet again. That's just not the way |
| They wanted out and they wanted out now. They | | | | life is and it's time we came to terms with reality. |