Youth has time on its side
JAKARTA (JP): They are young, smart and energetic. They are fun and fashionable. They also hold important positions in the workplace. Here come the "yummies" -- young upwardly mobile modern independent elite singles.
In this special edition, The Jakarta Post presents a series of articles focusing on today's urban young and their lifestyles.
These people, many of whom are still in their 20s, were well educated at reputed education institutions at home or abroad. Unlike the older generation, they are more outspoken. They know what they want and with strong determination they fight for their dreams -- with a passion the older generation may lack.
Some enjoy the benefits of being the children of wealthy families while others start from scratch. But one thing is certain, they work extremely hard to build their careers, and keep on moving forward for a more prosperous future.
Judging from their earnings, they are surely a minority of the population within a nation whose average annual income per capita is only about US$600. In this country, where about 38 million people are jobless, they do not have any difficulty finding a decent job. Which is not surprising considering their qualifications. They are indeed valuable assets of the nation.
Money is important, but that is not the only thing they are after. They want to be able to express themselves, to do things they love, and still have time for fun. They have their choice of a vibrant nightlife and they enjoy adventure sports which not only require a lot of money, but also a lot of guts.
So independent are these young professionals that they do not feel an urgent need to establish a family. For them, being single is a blessing and they do not succumb to social pressures. How do they cope with their sexual desire? This is not something to talk about openly even though they, unlike their parents, admit that virginity does not really matter. Amazingly, one of them says: "My religion forbids premarital sex." And religion remains important when considering a soulmate.
On the other hand, even with all of their success and achievements, they are still not free from problems. Some might be confused, depressed, feel alienated and unfulfilled. Some might be trapped between traditional values and modernism. And they must be aware of the many temptations to have too much fun, with the potential to fall into drug and alcohol addictions.
Yet, such problems should not overshadow the general portrait of hard-working young professionals who know well the importance of being young, and are doing well to stay on the right side of a winding road. (sim)