Sports Gambling and the present day youth
Gambling is simply taking part in a game in which you stake money or something of value with hope of multiplying what you staked.
With the urgent need of making fast money nowadays by Young folks, gambling has become a very trusted venture by youths to make money. It is very difficult to see a young person who isn't involved in one gambling venture or the other.
The rewards of gambling is without doubt exciting and intoxicating. Gambling can make a person use his or her last penny to bet. Gambling has left many people in irrecoverable debts.
Negative effects of gambling on youths
1. Negligence
People involved in gamble tend to be unserious with other means of making money. They believe in the quick dividends of gambling which is very rare. They display a lazy attitude towards working and getting a reward for work done.
2. Lack of meaningful relationship
A chronic gambler hardly considers keeping a useful relationship with others. His or her only concern is to gamble and make money. Most gamblers don't value romantic relationships.
3. Low self-esteem
Gambling can cause low self-esteem for some who engage in it. When their stakes result in losses it can be depressing and this leads to unwillingness to associate with people.
4. No savings
Gamblers tend to use majority of their income to gamble. They always fail to take proper care of themselves.
5. Poor academic performance
Any young person who's a student that is involved in gambling is bound to experience difficulties in education. The person's attention is not solely on his academics but also gambling
Introvert
It was a beautiful morning on the 14th day of March of the year 2002. I woke up to the reality of finally starting my secondary education. My body was overrun with emotions. The prospect of meeting new friends got me motivated as I had learnt from my older ones that secondary school was the beginning of reasonable education. I was to start school the next day.
As the Lord would have it , Monday the 15th of March came as I hurriedly prepared for school. I boarded the school bus, only one little issue bothered me, I was an introvert. The reality of having to mix up with a crowd of people, answer questions in large halls dawned on me, all my excitement gradually turned to worry.
The school bus finally arrived at school I alighted and was shown to my classroom. Everything was finally happening as the class teacher got everyone to introduce themselves, it seemed an easy task for all the other students as they quickly identified themselves one after the other, when it got to my turn I was so stiff as I struggled to spell out my name 'frank'. It was break time as all the other students looked for playmates, I sat all by myself not wanting to associate but it was a large school and many students came around and left but one stayed behind , his name was Steve, a tall and handsome boy who tried and succeeded in starting a conversation with me. We clicked and instantly became friends.
My friendship with Steve continued to strive as I worked on my communication skills, albeit in failure. Each day I came back from school, I would do my chores and head for my room and lock myself up. A part of me just didn't crave relationship with others. That became my routine that I hoped to change but didn't succeed.
This continued for years as I graduated from secondary school with only a solitary friend. Steve became a brother, he was the only person I communicate with effectively apart from my family. I sought help from many therapists my family where able to get for me but to no avail. It seemed this problem was born with me and was equally going to die with me. It was frustrating.
University time came and I wrote the entry exam and passed. It was now time to play in the big boys league, this represented a new life for me, a life of freedom, respect, and the rare opportunity of having a romantic relationship with the opposite sex. One thing was certain, I was going to miss my friend Steve as he also got admission into a different university.
In my first day in the university, I realized I must mix up if I am to come out of this race victorious. While in the university, my communication and association surprisingly improved thanks to the various group assignments and endless seminars on boosting confidence. My education at this point wasn't rosy but I felt fulfilled as I had exceeded my expectations. My first year results where impressive.
Presently it's the year 2010 , I'm in my second year in the university, I'm still reserved but happy.
Sometimes I look up in the sky and wounder if there are other people in different parts of the world who have had similar experiences. I'm at peace with who I am. I'm an 'introvert'.
Cybercrime
Be it using fake mails to get personal information from online users, hacking and stealing from private and public organisations, romance scams. Cybercrime in general has become a universal phenomenon closely associated with present day youths all over the globe.
Cybercrimes have funded lavish and wayward lifestyles of those engaged in it. At the other end it has left many people (victims of cybercrime) in anguish, pain , and in dire cases it has left them in life threatening situations such as hypertension, heart attacks e.t.c.
The chances of cybercrimes been rooted out of the society is very slim as almost every individual is focused on making fast money prompting them to go into it.
In Africa, the governments haven't laid down proper foundation for ordinary youths to grow. In a typical African setting where the ordinary struggles for basic amenities , it's almost impossible to desuade the youths from going into online scams.
In Asia cybercrime is closely associated with high internet access and availability of high end gadgets. Majority of Asia's young population have easy access to good internet making it easy for them to do whatever they want online
In Europe and America cybercrimes are on the rise. Due to the high rate of credit card transactions it has been relatively easy to rob people of their monies.
Whether in Africa, Asia, Europe or America there's a rising need to tackle cybercrime. Government and private agencies taxed with protecting and making the cyberspace a safe place ought to do more to provide max security for internet users.
Homeland
Homeland is the place of one's origin, it forever lies in our hearts. Be it the hot desert's of Africa, the warm weather Of Asia, the cold of Europe or the varying weathers of America.
There is a special aura attached to one's homeland, it attracts you back home even if you travel to the ends of the world , you'll always crave a reunion with your homeland. Many may argue that there are beautiful locations blessed by nature all over the globe that are way more beautiful than one's place of origin but those places can never replace the Homeland.
Homeland has a special appeal that makes it's people never forget it. This can be seen in people who have travelled far and wild but still come back to their place of origin to experience the warmth of the homeland.
The homeland in its beauty is blessed with resources that sustain it's people throughout eternity. It must not be allowed to wither and go extinct, it must be nurtured with love ,care and human presence.
The homeland remains even when we are dead and gone.
It is our tombstone.
We should be proud of our homeland.
I love my homeland.
