The things that scare us shouldn't stop us

I rarely am, though I see why they're asking. In our society just the presence of young people outdoors is seen as threatening. Added to which, I don't look tough or streetwise.

It usually isn't helpful to show fear to the young people you're working with, although they are often able to sense how workers feel about them. More honesty among ourselves would be a good idea though: much as youth workers love getting together to discuss their work, fear is something we rarely touch upon. Nerves and fear are associated with inexperience, ineptitude, and "not being up to the job".

I am more likely to be fearful at this time of year, which I associate with young people throwing or shooting fireworks at each other, mostly "for jokes". I have nearly been hit several times by small flaming explosives, thrown both by young people I don't know, and others who know and like me but think it's just a laugh. As November approaches, I start to jump at sudden noises and feel wary of the dark, of groups of young people hanging around, of someone running past. My usual libertarian politics are forgotten as I rant that fireworks should be banned.