Youth Encounter

I talked to Emmanuel, a 20-year-old young man, at the youth group. Emmanuel was exhausted after a couple of hours at the gym, but he was vivacious and amiable. Like any other young person, Emmanuel shown extreme ambition. He has clear goals for the future. I have the impression that, for his age, Emmanuel is really outstanding because he is highly focused and understands what he wants to do with his life. He doesn't seem to get easily sidetracked and possesses a nice heart because he wants to work with the community as a police officer to aid them. Reflecting on the encounter gives a deeper meaning to Emmanuel’s character. Emanuel is a young man with a plethora of desirable traits for youth. His character enables him to interact with other people as well as the society. He has behaviors and characteristics that are attributable to him and define his morals and values.

Friendliness and Openness

After meeting him, we greeted each other, and his response was friendly. During the conversation, he was willing to give answers to the questions. His communication indicated openness; he was talked about his future plans frankly. As we parted, he was thankful and promised that he would come back to talk to me.

Outgoing

Emmanuel did not hesitate to communicate with me immediately I introduced the conversation. Although, he was friendly in talking about his hobbies such a watching and listening to music. Emmanuel doesn’t live in an excluded world; just has the other youths, he too has a taste for music and TV. He said that he was watching Narcos on Netflix. Moreover, he said that he liked listening to UK rap, grime and R n B. Such comments indicated that Emmanuel is outgoing; he likes to know what is happening in the other places.

Hard working and determined

Emmanuel was actively involved in the gym and the youth club. He attended the gym three times every week. He was working hard in the gym to maintain physical fitness that he knew was relevant to his future police and army careers. He had also attended the youth club for three years. He outlined that the youth club kept him busy as he awaits to start working.

Organized

Emmanuel had been yearning to join the army. He had an action plan to realize his dream. He was working out his physical fitness at the gym with the hope of joining the police in the next January. After joining the police force, he wanted to gain more experience. He knew that joining the police would increase chances and experiences to enter the army.

Ambitious

After asking him why he wanted to join the army, he told me that it was always what he had wanted. His statement expressed a high level of ambition. Moreover, it indicated that he was focused on keeping his dream alive. He was ready to undergo the rigorous training as long as he ends up in the army. Therefore, he is an ambitious young man, driven by an unshaken focus to realize his dreams.

Sense of belonging

The passion for joining the army was driven by his childhood experience at Peckham. According to Emmanuel, Peckham was notorious for crimes. He wanted to join the police and the army so that he can help the people fight against the high crime rates. Therefore Emmanuel exhibited a sense of belonging to a society where he chose to take a personal initiative to improve.

Our views towards each other

I viewed Emmanuel as a highly focused person; was aware of what he wanted in life. His impression as a young man was encouraging. Although life has challenges, he doesn’t get distracted easily. I also noticed that he had a good heart; he was willing to assist the community by serving as police. To me, he was a kind and friendly person who was free to talk to. I admired his focused action plan that indicated composure and resilience. Emmanuel was a hardworking person; he was determined to go to the youth club for three years. He must have been sociable to remain in the youth club for that long. His gym attendance well illustrated his determination; he made it three times every week. Furthermore, I found Emmanuel being disciplined; he kept his gym attendance, and youth club visits a routine. Emmanuel was frank; he would share his aspirations openly. He was also open-minded, he invited dialogue objecting his opinions. For instance, he was aware that although he craved to join the police, he had to do a lot concerning his training.

Emmanuel viewed me as helpful, resourceful and knowledgeable. He promised to keep in touch and always contact me for advice. I suspect he must have found me interrogative; I asked him many personal questions concerning his hobbies, plans, future career, and what he does. After telling me his plans to join the military and the police, I told him to keep his dream alive and work towards it. He found me encouraging; that is why he promised to come back for advice.

What I did during the encounter

During the encounter, I remained positive towards Emmanuel. I maintained a positive position towards his ambitious dream of becoming a police and an army officer. I ensured that all my statements were encouraging him to put more effort towards realizing his dream. I also maintained a lively engagement with the respondent. I asked him various questions. I did not go into private questions that may have upset him. I was keen on the selection of my words so that he was not offended. Moreover, I ensured that Emmanuel understood that I believed in him. Therefore he had to do all that it takes to ensure his dream becomes true. I made him feel important in the society by appreciating his ambition to help the community.

Lessons from reflecting on the encounter, and how different work may be in future

Emmanuel and I met at the youth club where the youths learn different skills before joining the job market. After we communicated with him, both of us agreed that the youth club was important. In the youth club, one could learn various skills that enable him or her to gain the relevant skills needed in the workplaces. In the future, the youth clubs will become relevant as points of collection for the youths. The youth clubs will be more important than in the past years; due to the changes in lifestyles and the economy. The youth club attendants are expected to drop due to the increased use of other forms of interactions such as online communications via social media. For this reason, it is relevant for the government to set aside funds to facilitate the success of the youth clubs. The support assistant groups, leaders as well as non-governmental organizations need to work jointly in providing the conducive environment that will attract the youths to the youth clubs. Much needs to be done to ensure that the youth clubs are revolutionized to give moral support, counseling, training as well as spearhead the youths towards promising career. The youth clubs can be used for educating the youths to avoid crimes as well as drug abuse (ambition).

Emmanuel and I share a common interest in TV shows and music. Therefore, the youth’s entertainment is universal across all regions. His love for the Netflix TV show indicated that the modern media plays a significant role in the youths’ entertainment. In the future, the entertainment business that runs on the internet such as Netflix is likely to succeed. The organization of TV shows such as showing movie series will dominate the future of entertainment (Bajarin). Therefore, it is crucial for the TV to incorporate the movies series in the entertainment to capture the youths. Majority of the youths follow movies series; Emmanuel and I followed Narcos on Netflix.

Emmanuel wanted to become a police officer and an army officer. His childhood experiences drove his ambition for law enforcement at Peckham; many crimes characterized the area. Emmanuel’s choice to join the police so that he can help the community indicated that the youths have a role to play in the community. The energy in the youths can be wisely utilized in the provision of security and enhancement of life. Security is a major concern in any society; it is the obligation of everyone to engage in the provision of security (Pierre). The crime rates may increase in the future because of the increase in population as well as deterioration of moral integrity. The youths’ perception of crime may change if they reason in the line of Emmanuel. More youths will be involved in law enforcement rather than in crime. The government is obliged to provide the necessary resources that empower the youth to dissent from crime and embrace law abidance.

Conclusion

The encounter with Emmanuel involved interaction with an ambitious, focused and hard-working youth. Emmanuel carried so dearly the dream to join the police and the army. He was very focused on achieving his dream; he would not let anything distract him. Emmanuel had dedicated his energy and time to the gym so that he would improve his physical fitness for his dream career. Emmanuel acknowledged the significance of the youth club. He had been visiting the youth club for three years; he viewed it as an important place that keeps him busy as he awaits joining the working class. The youth clubs are significant places in the development of the youths. It is necessary to provide the facilities for empowering the efficiency of the youth clubs. Through the youth clubs, the youths can learn skills that help them in the future. Moreover, the youth clubs can be used for counseling and deal with social problems that affect the youths. For instance, in the youth clubs, the youths can be sensitized on shunning away from crime as well as drugs and substance abuse.

Works Cited

Ambition. Youth Clubs. 2017. 7 December 2017. . Web.

Bajarin, Ben. Netflix and the future of entertainment. 9 August 2016. 7 December 2017. . Web.

Pierre, Antonia. COMMENTARY: Do the youth have a role to play in the prevention of crime? 5 April 2013. 7 December 2017. . Web.