Growing up from boys to men

Last month Adriel Robles, 15, bagged the second place in the Emirates Environment Group's contest on marine pollution for the senior category.

His father, Eliseo, and mother, Elizabeth, were there to shake his hand. The contest, which has a presentation format that calls for public speaking skills, prompted Eliseo to tell his son that he could, if he tried, be the President of the Philippines one day.

Even while it is obvious that the new generation sees itself as savvy and successful, it is equally obvious that the older generation is doing its fair share of egging them on towards 'destination success'.

Which is how evolution got its name really, but that is not to say that success is an automatic outcome. The sweat and tears that precede success of the new generation not only belong to them but to their parents too.

The young today don't just receive an academic education; they are groomed with life skills. What kind of skills are these and what role do parents, peer groups and schools play in this grooming? Friday spoke to boys on the threshold of manhood, educators and parents to get their insight on this.

Konstantinos Manetas
16, Dubai American Academy