NEW YORK, Aug 22 (IPS) – Imagine a world where every young person has the tools they need to succeed, regardless of age, where they live, ethnicity, the name of their university or the title on their resume. It’s a world where dreams are limitless and potential knows no bounds.
Individuals often try to fit into a puzzle piece where they don’t belong because the definition of success is based on a few parameters that they feel obligated to achieve, such as getting into that top-rated school, landing the right internship, attending those networking events, and landing that perfect job. But what happens when someone wants to take a detour from their own path?
Self-awareness leads to self-reliance
Much emphasis has been placed on the crucial aspect of greater inclusivity for youth as they are the future leaders of tomorrow. But why not equip them to become the leaders of today?
By understanding ourselves—our thoughts, feelings, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations—we build the foundation for belief in our ability to achieve our goals. Opportunities are everywhere, but how often do we know which ones and when to seize them?
On average, it is seen that the first 5-7 years after graduation are the most frequent career changes for people. To help young people realise their true ambitions, instilling courage, building resilience and developing self-awareness through effective career mapping tools, genuine mentoring and making resources and platforms more accessible to them can have a major impact on shaping their journey.
When young people have this knowledge, they can make informed decisions about their future. They can choose paths that lead to true fulfillment, rather than just checking off a predetermined list of things that others tell them to do. And therein lies true empowerment.
Crossroads to success
It becomes overwhelming to stay focused and think about what you really want in a world full of endless possibilities, waking up to dynamic changes that make them evolve. The art of staying focused, specific and aligned with your aspirations can lead to more effective career paths, where youngsters would be able to emerge as true changemakers in their respective fields.
This gap between one’s goals and chosen path can lead to frustration, burnout, and a sense of unfulfilled potential. As a result, many young people become distracted from where their true potential lies and give up sooner than expected.
Through open dialogue, effective mentoring, providing diverse exposure and encouraging self-reflection on one’s passion, you can have a profound impact on a young person and enable them to rise above and become the true, authentic version of themselves.
Redefining the standards:
As the Secretary-General said earlier on the occasion of International Youth Day, how crucial it is to involve young people more in all aspects of decision-making and how equipping them with the relevant tools and knowledge is the way to create impact. Over the past decade, the word empowerment has become increasingly important and emphasized. It is now time to redefine what we mean by empowering others and are we actually putting it into action or have we left it as another tick on the checklist on the road to inclusivity.
Embrace the detour
Taking that one step forward has always been the hardest because it carries with it the burden of expectations, fear of failure, fear of missing out, and the constant cries of what will people think? In the midst of taking that one step forward and staying in the status quo is what really shapes the future.
As John Green said, “It’s so hard to leave until you leave, and then it’s the easiest thing in the world.” Normalizing detours and motivating young people to challenge the status quo is what truly empowers them, rather than just giving them the ability to make decisions and choose, but with only the same colored balls in the box to choose from.
As we strive to build a more inclusive, innovative, peaceful, and hopeful society, we must recognize that young people are no longer waiting to get a seat at the table. They are creating their own tables to create real change that is not limited to a few, but to everyone. And they are giving youth more power for youth.
Bisma Qamar is a youth activist in the field of learning and development. As a specialist in communications and branding, she works to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by helping individuals in their personal and professional development in corporate organizations and academic institutions.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
