I don’t say that ‘leaders’ are people with high positions nor who earn lots money and power. In some cases that is right, but not for the whole. I’m saying about young leaders, who act to make positive changes happened. That concept allows more, actually, it counts everybody whose path is long ahead, of whom decisions made and following actions NOW are effecting how they live in the FUTURE.
Having attended activities like workshops, trainings where people talk about leadership, sometimes I take a seat and ask myself “What is it for to promote the concept of leadership among youth?”. Very few people there do some real acts and have positive influences that count. What restrict them, even they have tools and resources in hand? Why we have so many so-called leaders on the list, and we haven’t seen changes as its potential?
Sorry for not bringing it up some evidences, we never ask about leadership on the National Youth Survey. Or rather, lets say we even never understand what that means. And what we have to do with that. I strongly believe to work things out with leadership-related concepts is important, but the central questions are HOW and for WHOM.
In my opinion, Firstly, to be a leader, one should be developed as the whole as a human. Regardless of background, culture and faith, that is the one who accesses three aspects of human development: to be able to think independently; to be oneself; to be and to think in a group. This argument is involving the affirmation of accessibility to basic rights regarding to food, shelter, education, health care and security. Secondly, a leader has to be the one who does things in real, not by wording on mouth. Thirdly, a leader can be global citizen who helps solve global issues or wakes up global followers, but has to represent local voice before. It is why I argue that everyone has a fatherland to belong to, and every effort is to dedicate to the deep backstage of serving its people and country. This is the highest level of leadership, and it is not something unfamiliar, but what we are experiencing daily, when we study, we do blog, we speak English, we teach, we debate, we do journalism, we talk. If you are aware of what you do everyday, even if it sounds benefiting you only, you are heading to be a leader. Remember to stay wise because the line between you and you as a part is faint.
It seems too much with a youngster, huh? I know it is hard, so we call youth leaders to encourage them to do more in seeking themselves for upper levels. Because if you are leaders, you don’t need a name. You just live it your life with joys and through that, leaving your positive footprints to the common place where people are all living. You hunt the problems to solve, in engaging communities to help you to help them, that is the way you feel fulfilled. That attitude of courage and passion comes first, followed by inspiration and change. And from you, more leaders born.
Then we look back into how the country’s circumstances prepare youth to become leaders, to change what is now that may result in something better in the future. I don’t think we get that ready. This is the view from Vietnam, I need more pages to prove that point, in terms of education, health, politic, environment, media etc. I am doing, as start and I need your voice shared from your context.
I know you are just there in the crowd…is that hard to be different?
Photo credit: Rob Rozicki
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