NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (IPS) – Imagine a world where every young person, regardless of age, where they live, their ethnicity, the name of their college or the title on their resume, has the tools they need to succeed. A world where dreams are limitless and potential knows no bounds.
Speaking at International Youth Day 2024 last week, General Assembly President Dennis Francis said the historic Security Council resolution 2250, adopted unanimously in 2015, recognized the important role young people play in efforts to maintain international peace and security. In particular, the resolution called on Member States to consider ways to give young people a greater voice in decision-making at local, national, regional and international levels.
International Youth Day 2024, celebrated on 12 August, highlights the decade of progress on the youth, peace and security agenda with the theme “Empowering Youth for Peace and Security.” The global youth population is estimated to exceed 1.2 billion.
People often find themselves trying to fit puzzle pieces that don’t belong. The simple definition of success is based on a few parameters that we think we should achieve, like getting into a prestigious school, getting the right internship, attending networking events, and landing the perfect job. But what happens when you want to take a right turn on your own path?
Self-awareness leads to self-efficacy
There has been a lot of emphasis on the importance of greater inclusion for our youth, the leaders of tomorrow, but why not also prepare them to be the leaders of today?
By understanding ourselves—our thoughts, feelings, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations—we build a foundation for believing in our ability to achieve our goals. Opportunities are everywhere, but the question is how often do we know which opportunities to seize and when?
On average, the first 5-7 years after graduation are when individuals make the most transitions in their careers. Empowering young individuals to achieve their true aspirations, building resilience, developing self-awareness through effective career mapping tools, authentic mentoring, and making resources and platforms more accessible can have a huge impact on shaping their journey.
Armed with this knowledge, young people can make informed decisions about their futures and choose paths that lead to real achievement rather than checking off a list of things that others have decided they should follow. And that’s where the real power comes from.
Crossroads to Success
In a world filled with endless opportunities, it can be overwhelming to focus and reflect on what you truly want, and you will realize that dynamic change is evolving it. Focused, specific, and aligned with your aspirations can lead to more effective career paths, where young people can emerge as true change makers in their respective fields.
A disconnect between goals and chosen paths can lead to frustration, burnout, and feelings of unfulfilled potential, causing many young people to give up earlier than expected, away from where their true potential actually lies.
Allowing open dialogue and effective mentoring, providing diverse experiences, and encouraging self-reflection on their passions can have a huge impact and empower young individuals to step up and become their authentic selves.
Redefining the norm:
As the Secretary-General mentioned earlier on International Youth Day, it is about how important it is to include more young people in all decision-making spheres, and how upskilling young people with the relevant tools and knowledge is the way to create impact. The word empowerment has gained importance and emphasis over the past decade. It is time to redefine what it means to empower others, and whether we are actually putting it into practice or just leaving it as a check mark on the path to inclusion.
Accept a right turn
Taking that one step has always been the hardest, because it carries the weight of expectations, fear of failure, fear of missing out, and the constant screaming about what people will think. Taking that one step and staying with the status quo is what truly shapes the future ahead.
As John Green said, “Leaving is the hardest thing to do until you do it, but after you do, it’s the easiest thing in the world.” Normalizing detours and motivating young people to challenge the status quo is what truly empowers them. It’s not just giving them the ability to make decisions and choices, it’s giving them the ability to choose from a box of balls of the same color.
If we are to build a more inclusive, innovative, peaceful and hopeful society in the future, we must recognize that young people are no longer waiting to be seated at the negotiating table, but are creating their own table to bring about real change for all, not just some.
Bhishma Kamar A youth activist in the learning and development field. As a communications and branding expert, she works to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by enhancing individuals’ skills in personal and professional development across corporate organizations and academic institutions.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal Source: Inter Press Service
