In any society, for the people of that society to survive and see another day, it is incumbent upon the youth of that particular society to place upon their small, immature shoulders the heavy burden of being architects of that better tomorrow. This is despite the fact that the elderly, as its always the case with man refusing to learn from the past, who by virtue of their longer years on this here planet have arrogated to themselves the wisdom of the universe; a common occurrence that is almost often proven to be untrue. Age, logically speaking, has never been and could never be the determinant of wisdom and intelligence. This is not to say the youth could or should never be willing to learn from their elders.
“In any society, for the people of that society to survive and see another day, it is incumbent upon the youth of that particular society to place upon their small, immature shoulders the heavy burden of being architects of that better tomorrow”
I was attracted to Genius Level by the young contributors of this platform who realised early on that for South Africa, Africa and the world to survive today and see a better tomorrow they needed to place upon their small, immature shoulders the heavy burden of being architects of that better tomorrow they envision. Across the world young people are performing miracles and this is a phenomenon that has been a common occurrence for centuries. In 2004 a 19-year-old Psychology major at Harvard University, a native of Dobbs Ferry, New York created a social network that even 12 years later it still continues to be a marvel. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, turns 32 in May and does not look like he wants to slow down. This is despite the fact that his remarkable creation in its short existence has made him an extremely wealthy man, with a dizzying net worth of $45 billion; numbers that can literally pose a danger to the tongue of that old chap who occupies the Union Buildings.
At the beginning of the 20th century, six years into the first decade of the brand new century, another young man from Daggakraal, in the modern day province of Mpumalanga stood in a hall at Columbia University, in the United States of America, in front of an audience that looked nothing like him and delivered one of the greatest speeches known to man titled ‘The Regeneration of Africa’. He was 24 years of age at the time. Six years later in 1912 now aged 30, together with a group of fellow lawyers and other outstanding African intellectuals, he would found this continent’s most influential and enduring liberation movement, the ANC (African National Congress). Today we know and remember him in his permanent absence as Pixley Isaka ka Seme.
So when I first browsed through Genius Level, curious to know what inspired the name and what sort of culture it sought to cultivate, the lessons it wanted to impart and the legacy it is busy establishing for future generations to inherit, I was astonished by the youth of its contributors and the pregnancy of their writings with ideas so full of new life there was no doubt that here, on this platform, a better tomorrow was not only being shaped, it was promised. In their writings these young people articulated themselves so confidently and beautifully, sharing with anyone who cared to read their stories, their challenges, hopes, dreams and everything that defines a portrait of life; be it noble or simply ugly, they were pouring it onto this platform, saying to the world, ‘Hey, pay attention. I am living. And I am also here to make my mark.’ Now you tell me, which liker of things would not have a deep yearning to be associated with such a bubbly, innovative, imaginative and inspiring group of young people like this one here on Genius Level? Of course I wanted to be associated with this lively bunch, I hoped to stand shoulder to shoulder with them when they tell the world that we too, as the proud children of Africa, do matter.
The people who contribute to this platform, the individuals who arduously dedicate themselves to writing for Genius Level, for writing is not a walk on a park, are known as geniuses. These are individuals who see the world differently to you and I. Their eyesight could be compared to that of an eagle, sharp and focused. These young people, whom we as well have come to believe and trust to carry on their small, immature shoulders the heavy burden of our hope for a brighter future are indeed geniuses; because geniuses are the only people mad enough to think and believe they could change the world. So amongst these geniuses I find myself to be the only odd one, a dwarf amongst giants. While it frightens me to be amongst these brilliant young people, sending chills down my spine for I am not a genius, I take solace in the words that once dripped from the mighty pen of that great English scientist Sir Isaac Newton. Newton had said: ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’ I joined Genius Level because I wanted to stand on shoulders of giants so I could see further. Kgotsong!
#moneymonday (Money Monday Is a weekly theme we have on Genius level where we talk money, financial literacy, inspiration and motivation)
Article By Seitiso Ntlothebe
