Youth has time on its side
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)