By I once overheard a boy at a cyber café say, “Mi siwezi jaribu hiyo attachment, wataniambia sina experience.” He was scrolling through LinkedIn, eyes flicking over opportunities he had already disqualified himself from. He couldn’t have been more than 22. And yet, he was already afraid to try.
It struck me how common this fear is among young people today — not just fear of failure, but fear of trying in the first place.
We live in a time when motivation videos fill our feeds, yet real courage is in short supply. Many youth carry dreams they’ve never tested, not because they’re lazy, but because they’ve internalized a narrative that says “You’re not ready.” We’re becoming a generation that overthinks itself out of progress.
Think of the average university student. If you ask them what they want to do after school, many will hesitate. Not because they don’t have dreams, but because the path to those dreams feels guarded by gatekeepers: money, experience, connections, “confidence,” or even just the fear of being seen as a beginner.
This fear isn’t just individual — it’s cultural. From a young age, we’re told to avoid embarrassment. Don’t speak unless you’re sure. Don’t try unless you’ll succeed. Don’t fail — or you’ll be laughed at. But life doesn’t work like that. The people we admire today failed forward. They dared when they were unsure.
I’ve seen classmates hide talents because they didn’t want to be mocked for trying. I’ve seen friends avoid applying for jobs or joining clubs because “sita make.” So they settle. They wait. For clarity, for money, for permission. But sometimes, clarity only comes after movement.
It’s time we shift the culture — from one that fears effort to one that celebrates initiative.
Trying should not be a source of shame. Failing should not be fatal. Let’s normalize starting before we feel ready. Let’s teach each other that effort is admirable, even when it doesn’t “win” immediately.
Because the real tragedy isn’t failure. It’s not even rejection. It’s the ideas that never became reality because someone was too afraid to try.
