- Having adult-related materials within reach has led some teenagers to get into shocking behaviours like selling revealing pictures of themselves. Children are likely to make harmful decisions that impair their lives without scrutiny. University life can be enriching, but it also involves risks such as unhealthy social life.
For most parents, sending their children far away to college is perhaps one of the emotional decisions they can make. A parent might embrace the idea of independence, while the other half will fret about the potential implication of being out of a guardian’s oversight.
Some would go even further and send their children abroad to be educated internationally. The real question remains: what is the right choice? In Kenya, most students finish high school at 18 years, which can go up to 20 years for some students.
This is a point of identity development where peer group interaction significantly impacts adolescents' behaviour. Students can be easily led astray at this age if there is no supervision. If not controlled, they may succumb to negative behaviours such as drug abuse, promiscuous relationships, and other forms of self-destructive behaviour.
Unfortunately, some young adolescent women go the unscrupulous route of getting rid of their unplanned pregnancies through unsafe abortions. Introducing social media channels like Telegram, TikTok, and OnlyFans further complicates the situation.
Having adult-related materials within reach has led some teenagers to get into shocking behaviours like selling revealing pictures of themselves. Children are likely to make harmful decisions that impair their lives without scrutiny. University life can be enriching, but it also involves risks such as unhealthy social life.
Read More
Some students misuse their freedom when away from home. Many parents have shared heartbreaking stories of their children failing to attend classes despite receiving tuition fees. These misguided children abuse their allowance through partying and socializing, only for their parents to realize their child’s misbehaviour too late.
Older men can easily manipulate young women by preying on their naivety and offering to pay in return for their company. Girls and boys indulge in this “for the gram selfie lifestyle.” The pursuit of a more extravagant lifestyle transforms dreams into nightmares, and soon, people find themselves in deep trouble.
In response to these issues, universities need to adopt practices that enable parents to track and monitor their children's academic activities and overall lifestyles. Making routine trips to the campus, seeing if classes are being attended, and evaluating their social circle can make a positive impact. Independence is good, but so is supervising their actions.
Structurally directed assistance, especially regarding education and personal development, is fundamental for students in their first year. In the end, children can benefit from attending faraway universities, but it takes thorough preparation and persistent attention to help them avoid obstacles.
