ONE OF the most serious challenges my generation faces is not only unemployment or lack of opportunity, but a growing culture of social pressure and competition driven by influence and trends.
Young people are constantly in the spotlight. Social media has created a stage where success, happiness, and wealth must be displayed even if they are not real.
The pressure to appear successful is slowly replacing the discipline required to become successful.
Many young people feel forced to compete over lifestyles they cannot afford. Expensive clothing, frequent clubbing, alcohol-centred entertainment, extravagant celebrations, and public relationship displays have become symbols of relevance.
The issue is not enjoyment itself. The issue is imitation without financial or emotional readiness.
Valentine’s Day earlier this month is simply one example. What should be a modest expression of affection often turns into a contest of spending and visibility.
The more expensive the gift or the louder the online displays, the more valuable the relationship appears.
This mindset does not end there it reflects a broader need for validation.
PURPOSE VS PRESSURE
From my observations, many young people are not irresponsible by nature.
They are responding to pressure: the fear of being left behind or missing out, judged, or labelled as unsuccessful.
As a result, some spend beyond their means, prioritise image over investment, and choose short-term recognition over long-term stability.
Namibia’s future depends on a generation that builds rather than performs.
Real growth requires patience, sacrifice, and focus. These qualities may not trend online, but they are the foundation of national development.
It’s time for young people to recognise that living within one’s means is not weakness.
Saying no to certain trends is not backwardness. There is strength in discipline and dignity in gradual progress.
THE TRUE TEST
The challenge facing Namibian youth is not a lack of potential.
It is the courage to resist unnecessary competition and choose purpose over pressure.
And beyond resisting, it is about creating our own standards valuing education, personal growth, and meaningful connections over fleeting social validation.We must stop measuring ourselves by what others do, and start building the skills, character, and resilience that will sustain us for life.
The youth who can master this mindset will not only succeed individually, but also lift communities, drive innovation, and shape a Namibia that is stronger, fairer, and more prosperous.
The choice is ours, and the time to act is now.
Tangi Amupanda is a third year media studies student at Triumphant College.
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