Arabic to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Syria

Hi everyone,

I'm translating a story in which the narrator travels from Sweida to Damascus and describes what happens at all the checkpoints along the way. In this section, the narrator is feeling sorry for the young soldiers working at the checkpoints.

أعمارهم لم تتجاوز العشرین، كان علیهم أن یكونوا في أولى سنوات الجامعة، یدرسون ویواعدون البنات ویشرقون. بدت أرواحهم منهكةً وهم یفتشوننا. كلهم طلبوا ماءً للشرب.
I know یشرق can mean "shine" but I think it might be alluding to personal growth and development here. e.g. something like "blossoming" rather than "shining"? What do you think?

Thanks for your help!
Anam