Jaye's Rant 5: Take Back Your Future!

[Jaye101]

Take Back Your Future
By: Jelani Laws

“Circumstances do not determine your future,” Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean said in a speech presented at the Harry Jerome awards in April.

Many young adults in marginalized neighbourhoods don’t believe they can make it through university. It is this mindset that has found its way into Toronto’s lower income communities to disenfranchise, and in turn discourage some of Toronto’s young adults.

As opposed to aiming for careers, these young adults set their eyes on jobs that don’t lead them to the same level of success. While many young adults in middle and upper class neighbourhoods have numerous career oriented ambitions, it seems as if those from lower income neighbourhoods compromise their success by only considering mediocre endeavors after high school or post-secondary education.

However progress is being made, less and less students from lower income communities in Toronto are dropping out every year.

Analyzing some of the households these youths come from, it’s a surprise they have ambitions and the desire to work at all.

The vast majority of Toronto’s populous below the poverty line is immigrants. Some of these immigrants left behind entire lives and careers in order for their children to have better lives. Some young adults do not take into account this effort put out by their parents, and turn to the distribution of recreational drugs, gangs and other criminal activities.

There is no question that crime is much more prevalent in lower income neighbourhoods. It is this selfish attitude in combination with the socio-economic marginalization, that has caused many young adults to completely disregard their parents and the effort put out for them entirely.

The Empty Dream is another aspect of this hindrance in lower income neighbourhoods. Rappers, Basketball players, Football players—this is how many students in high school justify their lack of effort. They believe that because they cannot succeed in academic related professions; this is all they have to turn to.

Although they hold unprecedented resources in their possession, many young adults in lower income neighbourhoods aim for these positions—aware subconsciously that it is improbable to materialize.

Realizing all this—young adults in lower income neighbourhoods should put out the effort to be successful, encouraging the many others falling around them.

[Electrify]

Great essay. On a side note, it really is a shame so many youths feel they need to resort to crime for money. It isn't as "glamorous," but I'd rather see a teenager work the night shift at McDonald's than to start mugging good people.

[InTheBeach]

But what are your thoughts on this Jaye?

[Jaye101]

I wrote the article.

[InTheBeach]

Originally Posted by Jaye101

I wrote the article.

LOL! I missed the first four rants and didn't make the connection. Laws...I should have caught that.

As inspiration (for me, anyway), my wife grew up in a welfare situation and paid her way through university, was very successful in the corporate world, and now runs her own business. She slugged it out and had to put up with a lot of crap that the average cheese eating middle class kid is unaware of. And I always thought i had it tough as a kid!

[rick1016]

well said man.

[Epi]

Nice rant Jaye. Do you think you might be a writer some day?

Have you ever heard about the Pathways to Education program? It was something that I was somewhat involved with during my early undergrad days. Not really tooting my own horn as I was only tangentally involved as it was unfortunately usually held on a really bad day for me. The program was started by this guy who got corporate sponsors to pay for an after school program for grade 9 kids living in Regent Park. As those kids had no where to go after school, this was an opportunity for them to expand their horizons. As a part of the university debating club at U of T, our part in it was that every week we'd go to Regent Park and teach them how to debate.

It was pretty amazing to see actually how good these kids were. Every year we ran a high school tournament, and due to the mega nerdyness of debate, really the only schools that participated were those from the weathier suburbs and of course the private schools, usually kids grade 9-12. While the Regent Park kids weren't part of that, they did come to a special event at the University of Toronto held especially for them with all the corporate sponsors and of course us university students. I can say with some authority that these Regent Park kids who grew up in a completely different environment and were only in grade 9 were better than many of the grade 12 Upper Canada College kids.

Instead of the arrogant attitude you usually see in debating, these kids were of course a lot meeker and quieter when you talked to them as individuals and it was obvious English wasn't their first language. But when they were on stage in front of everyone, they were damn good and you could almost see the fire in their eyes because here they were, poor kids who never thought they'd be speaking in front of a crowd like this about issues of morality and ethics and stuff that was really far removed from their daily experience but still important to everyone. After the year was over, many of these kids had reconsidered their dreams and definately wanted to go to university and make something of themselves.

Unfortunately I haven't really kept in contact with any of this as I changed schools, and last I heard this program was also expanding to Jane and Finch but I haven't really followed up on it.

I know in society there are a lot of people who like to bring down those in poor neighbourhoods and say that these people deserve what they have. But I think that if we just gave people a chance, and showed them that there are so many opportunites out there if they put hard work into it, then I think it's a good thing for everyone.

[Jaye101]

Yeah, that's an amazing story. I think there should be not only more efforts to keep students from dropping out, but I also think there should be more of an effort to help them be sucessful in Academic as opposed to Applied subjects, there is no reason why the demographics should vary between the two.

[TObermuda37]

First off, no offence meant to anyone.

I just don't get it. I am an immigrant. My parents immigrated to Toronto and I went to school there (not born in Canada). I can tall you that the kids from today, have a heck of a lot more opportunity than I did when I was younger.

I can attest to the glass ceiling thing that everyone talked about. I had to fight to get where I am today. I graduated high school (5 kids in my family) and I started working as a mail clerk. Went to school part time and paid for it out of my pocket. All that I have, I earned on my own. My parents were there as a support.

My father busted his but to get where he was and let me tell you, he got where he was through hard work. I guess I am from a different generation because I got the belt when I was a child and things were certainly different but based on what I have done in my life I certainly hope that for any and all immigrants I have fought to make life a bit easier as well as many from my generation who are moving into positions of influence.

I have no idea what the future holds but, I certainly hope that the youths of today would spend a little less time on the super duper shoes that are on sale for $100 a pair and focus more on what will make their lives better which is not depending on anyone for assistance and doing what you can to make your life your own.

Yes the gov't has some responsibilty, but it boils down to you taking your life into your own hands and making things happen. Best of luck to anyone who is going through school now and don't let anything stop you. You can make it and make a difference in the world today.

What I say applies to all not only immigrants. Right now, times are good. I was gowing up in the 70's and those were tough times. I was working in the 90's when the stump was being constructed. I made it through without ever being laid off. I am thankful for that.

Cheers.

PS...mixed race here so there were additional pressures cause we were made fun as the zebra family. So I know all about the wonderful things people say.

[mariokarter]

Hey Jaye where are rants 1 -4?

[Jaye101]

Jaye's Rant: Police

Jaye's Rant 2: Jaye's Random Day (I'm not providing the link! My oh my is the past ever-so regrettable)

Jaye's Rant 3: Scarborough Town Centre

Jaye's Rant 4: Gangs and the City

The first two were just angry rants, but the last two are more like articles.