What do you like and dislike in the young people of today?
Mykhailo, police major, 37:
“I like contemporary young people for having a broad outlook. It seems to me things were different 15-20 years ago, when we were more inhibited. Now young people are much freer in both their thoughts and actions. As to negative traits, first, I do not think young people have many of them and, secondly, as the Scripture says, ‘Judge not that ye be not judged,’ Maybe, youth is now taking a more superficial view of life, but I am sure this will change in the course of life.”
Volodymyr, pensioner:
“Undoubtedly, today’s young people are very different from those of yesterday. They are more erudite, more modern, and assertive compared to what we were in our time. They perhaps know more than we did because there are now more opportunities to get all kinds of information: from narrow professional to general knowledge.”
Stas, college applicant, 17:
“Ukrainian youth is progressive and knows the score. Even at an early age, the individual strives to achieve very much, for he knows he will not make a career without a profession. In the West, for example, in the US, the education system is goal-oriented. They decide in childhood what they will do in life and then purposely learn their trade. In this country, you can be employed in a job for which you have never been trained and which will set entirely different specific tasks. On the other hand, our youth is absorbing the West’s flotsam and readily gives in to the depravity that flows from there like a tide.”
Olha, 15:
“We all live the way we want to in spite of various taboos. What I don’t like is that everybody is trying to adjust to and imitate somebody else. Many drink, smoke, use drugs, although this is a bad thing to do. People try to express themselves in this way, even though they very often do the wrong things. On the other hand, this must be natural for young people.”
Kateryna, farm worker:
“I like young people because they are beautiful and cultured. It even seems that Kyiv has gone younger. Earlier, young people were different, more religious. This had a serious effect on our life. I don’t mean Soviet times, I mean the old times. Now youth doesn’t believe in God.”
Serhiy, real estate broker, 35:
“What I like is that young people can speak freely and discuss what they want — very often quite to the point. I also like it that the younger generation is beginning to display patriotism, even though at the regional level so far. Yet, when there is a feeling of patriotism, things will be in better order, and it will be easier to get on one’s feet.”
Svitlana, engineer:
“I like the purposefulness of many young people. What I don’t like... That they enjoy much less social protection and have been left to their own devices. And you can only go places if you have a sharp mind, inner watchfulness, and, of course, help from parents.”
