In the early years of childhood, the personality pattern slowly emerges, and by the teen ages individuality blossoms. They are very formative years and the adult is very much in the making. Wordsworth said in MY HEART LEAPS UP, "The child is the father of the man".
Catch phrases such as "Youth takes the lead" or "Youth at the helm" are not only unnatural, they are quite unfair to teenagers. The Headteachers of our schools are not teenagers, neither is the Prime Mnister upon whom so much responsibility rests. I doubt too if it was a teenager surgeon who performed your operation! No. Responsibility and leadership belong to maturity, and many of us know only too well the terrible mistakes that have been made both inside and outside the Church by giving responsibility to those who were not ready for it. It is wrong to put old heads on young shoulders. How can Youth know all the answers when they have not heard all the questions?
Youth should have, and they deserve, a legitimate freedom of which too-early responsibility will rob them. They need space and time to develop, and those years can be years of adventure, and hopefully, of deep thought. Paterson Smyth wrote, "The thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts". They should cultivate the habit of thinking (a most important 'Do-it-yourself’ activity) and if they are open to the Scriptures and the Spirit of God, and are observant of nature and human nature, they will be well fitted for tomorrow.
When I once addressed a student body of a Bible College, I urged them not to waste time in their student years, but to squeeze every ounce of value from the curriculum. If not, they might live to regret it for the rest of their lives.