Some days ago, a few multinational organisations made headlines when they announced that thousands of their staff will be laid off worldwide, due to the economic downturn. It is no secret that there is no such thing as ‘job security’ at the moment, no matter where you live.
To be honest, it is not the first time companies resort to removing people from their jobs to stay afloat. In the mid-80’s, the same thing happened to a number of my friends and family. A cousin of mine and her husband, both fresh graduates, together with their baby had just returned from abroad. Both were in their early twenties but neither could find anything that could support them as a family in the job market. In the end, the husband set up a soft drinks stall that could hardly cover their rent.
Then there were my husband’s friend and his wife, also overseas graduates, who worked as temporary teachers in a school for some months. Just before their contract with the school ended, they were offered a permanent job at another city. They sold their belongings, packed their bags, told their three kids of the promising new life. But just two days before they were supposed to take a flight to the new location, the intended employer changed his mind, leaving the family in limbo.
Still, in the midst of these not-so-welcome news, I see some youths who are doing better than the rest. They become successful no matter the circumstances. These youths have qualities that make them stand out – they are resilient, they tend to be more curious than others, love learning, are self-reliant and responsible, to name a few. These attributes don’t appear in the college transcript.
Too many parents lack the vision to raise their children as such, opting instead to focus on short-term goals. Are you empowering your children with the above qualities in your everyday interactions with them? If not, I urge you to reconsider your long term goals for your children, and whether you are leading your children to reach them. The world is changing at a rate faster than we can imagine. Keeping the future and its ever-changing scenarios in mind helps you to become a better, more successful parent.
Thought of The Moment:
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – attributed to Socrates
