Globally Savvy... Young Americans Are Not

As I sit on my final plane ride of an almost 30 hour trek back to Los Angeles from Singapore, I can't help but worry about the future of America.

Sure, I watched the debates. Watched the House vote to try to bail our country out of pending financial ruin. Watched TV anchors risk whiplash as stock market plunged and surged. Watched the most prestigious institutions drop suddenly like flies. And I won't even get into what it was like to watch tourists taking photos of themselves in front of Lehman Brothers last week when I was in NYC.

Amidst all of this chaos, deep in my heart I believe the American spirit will prevail. What scared me most this week in East Asia though, was literally being surrounded by the global emerging workforce -- graduating students from dozens of countries around the world... and wondering if the spirit of our young people is strong enough to keep us globally competitive into the future. After all the dust settles, will they really be ready to lead?

The government and corporate world aren't the only ones in the US who need to clean up their acts and step up their games... so do millions of young people. For three days in Singapore, I stared, mesmerized, into the fiery eyes of students and teared from listening to the personal mantras of those from Kenya, Nigeria, El Salvador, the Philippines, the Ukraine, Poland, and Egypt watching the future leaders of the world find their voices and commit to joining forces to take on the biggest challenges that plague our world. The Americans in attendance were special indeed, but for all those back home who think they've got the world all figured out in their teens and twenties, I have to say, most don't have a clue what they are up against.

Before you start to question my patriotism for the country I love or for its youngest up-and-coming members, you have to know that I've dedicated the past 15 years to helping young people cultivate success in their lives, careers and communities. I've worked with thousands of them, and seen the best of what the younger generations have to offer. Every day they inspire me with their ambitions. But this past week, I met their competition, and it was awe inspiring and terrifying all at once. It wasn't pretty. It was fierce.

Putting aside the mounting issues of entitlement, self indulgence, job hopping, deteriorating professional readiness, delayed adulthood, "everyone's a leader" and "what's in it for me" mentality that are now being reported about young people in America almost ad naseaum -- it is time for some real perspective.

The world is a big place, yet so many kids in our country can't see beyond their own immediate environment, let alone our national boarders. They can't identify unmarked countries on a map. They study world history in school, but not world events unfolding every day. They wouldn't be caught dead watching the BBC over the Hills... let alone CNN. And they're not traveling abroad and exploring the larger world. At the center of their own universe they're getting far too comfortable. While this is in no way representative of all kids in the US, the numbers it does represent are staggering. We must, as a country, start to impress upon our young people the importance of becoming more globally aware, let alone savvy and curious.

Young people from other countries are hungry, passionate, and proudly training to become true global citizens. Young Americans should be no different. If the events of the past month have made anything perfectly clear it's that none of us can afford to rest on our laurels. This is the time when we all need to step up, expect more of ourselves, expand our perspectives, build our networks and embrace the different cultures, practices and people of the world. Those just launching their careers need to heed this warning (and seize the inherent opportunities) more than anyone.

Our ability to remain globally competitive as a country depends on it.

To learn more about the extraordinary students I met in Singapore, check out Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) or come meet some of the most ambitious young people on the planet from over 110 countries at YSN.com.

Comments

[KillTheMessenger]

Are we now blaming the mess we have created on our own youth? After destroying their schools, pricing most of them out of our best schools and universities and depositing them for most of their life before a video game of DVD player so we could do our own stuff, are we now blaming them for having made them into disillusioned little brats with no future?

Guess so.

[americaforme]

This is what was parroted before the second world war, our youth are not in competition with the new world order. I for one resent that you speak so without understanding about our youth. Our kids will step up to the plate, and can be counted on. Spoiled yes, but that doesn't disqualify them. I suggest you spend more time with the kids, in any one state, and chuck your measuring stick for old fashion loyalty.

[chiropractic]

Great stuff Jenn. I've seen that too when traveling abroad. Simple concepts like learning to speak a 2nd (or 3rd) language seems 2nd nature everywhere else but here. Sure many of us take Spanish in school, but do we push ourselves enough to grow and master such skills? Let's hope young entrepreneurs continue to be motivated by your talks and posts enough to move forward and lead with confidence and passion.

[satyriasis]

How about blaming conservatives and their vilification of education? Sure that doesn't amount to the core problem but just turning on KKKonservative hate radio scares me. Those bigots have massive audiences.

[JoshuaH]

I couldn't agree more with Jen. I have also done some traveling around Eastern Europe and Asia and I find that the emerging adults have a different attitude about them. They are less concerned with personal notoriety and more concerned with social impact. I find that the lesser privilaged students tend to have the most heartwarming and inspiring motivatng factors driving them towards success. I think one of the key differentiating factorsbetween global emerging adults and American emerging adults is their defiintiion of success. In America it tends to be very materialistic and ego driven where as the global audience is more selfless and interested in helping as many people as they can.
I know i also sound a but biased, but i am a tad ashamed to be an American given the drive and passion i have experienced from the different people I have met in my travels all over the world.

[tomsemioli]

Kudos for addressing this American dilemma!

However how do we inspire youth to be globally aware and intellectually motivated when it seems that the majority of their parents are equally clueless?

It all goes back to education " which is lacking in this nation for a good reason: smart folks question authority. Please refer to the civil rights movements, consumer rights movements, Vietnam protests, Women"s rights movements of the late 50s/60s/70s which was an era when college was attainable for the middle class " and knowledge was more revered than bling - hence an enlightened and active populous. We need to learn from that time in American history, and not just wear the retro clothing available at Bloomingdale's and Sak's.

We"re in our second (or third) generation of a dumb-down, passive culture. "Twas a time when kids looked up to individuals who actually accomplished something that made the world a better place (MLK, RFK, Steinem, Lennon, Marley, Angelou etc.) and prompted teens to explore other cultures and ways of thinking.

Perhaps a President Obama can make inroads to ignite young people"s imagination akin to JFK after the Eisenhower years. After all, he is smart, young, and global¦

[ketchumks]

It's true, many young Americans think they have it all figured out and the world is in the palm of their hand. What they don't realize is that, though it's in the palm of their hand, other young people around the world already have it in a "bear hug!"

[dadw5boys]

Isn't that one of the problems? Making your whole life a competition with other people, other races, and other countries.
The is more to life than trying to beat someone else to the punch.
Why can't the competition be for the best ideas, the best way to help others, the best way to use the natural resources instead of who can collect the most money and the most toys !!!!