Youth Day 2021
SA Chamber USA Wishing all South Africans in the USA a Happy Youth Day 2021. The remembering of the contribution of young people to democracy in South Africa on June 16th.
“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”.
Nelson Mandela
Our message to the youth:
Don’t be a follower, be a leader that is worth to be followed.
What is a true leader? Are you prepared to take the lead of a movement, organization, or business that stands for positive change? Or are you so distracted by the pop-culture video games and reality shows on tv?
Do something positive.
Most successful movements were orchestrated by the youth. The civil rights era was a youth movement. So many historical stands against unjust policies were started by college students.
Be careful what you focus on.
It is so easy to follow a negative, unproductive trend these days. With social media, online platforms, chat rooms, and so on, our youth are so easily distracted. They are lured away from positive, productive activities that would cultivate leadership skills. Detaching yourself from the real world creates a complacent, uninformed generation that is not attentive to relevant and important matters to our world.
Rather, be informed by reading books, watching the news, paying attention to local, regional, national, and international events. Keep your mind sharp. It will also improve your critical thinking and analytical perception. With more information, you will also be able to discern between factual and fake news. Do not be mislead.
So what do we as youth have to do to cultivate leadership and transform into leaders that are worth following?
Here are a few pointers to instill the qualities of a leader:
- Have courage: It takes courage to do the right thing, especially if everyone else do not.
- Stay humble: Humility creates powerful wisdom and insight. When your personal agenda is in conflict with the needs of others, remember that a true leader will make the selfless sacrifice. Humility is certainly not thinking any less of yourself. Rather, put others needs above your own.
- Gain wisdom: To make wise decisions may make you unpopular. But, in the long run, it would benefit everyone around you. Learn from your mistakes, but most of all, learn from the mistakes of others.
Are you aware of the things happening around you? And are you prepared to stand up and take the lead to bring change? We need young leaders in this world who want to embrace positive change. Stand up against the wrongs you see happening around you. Get involved in a cause that needs the vibrance, energy, and support that only a young person can bring. Be a positive contributor to our society, your local community, and your country.
We encourage you to develop a critical and analytical mind. Those skills will create a better future, no matter how challenging things may appear to be right now.
CARPE DIEM!!