Chatting with a friend the other evening, I was told about a recent survey completed by a group of teens.  The results were nothing short of shocking!  I looked online to verify what he told me.  Sure enough, I found that a recent survey of 1300 Irish teens, posted the following results:  80-85% of those asked what they want to be when they grow up, responded with "I want to be famous!"

Really!  Famous!  Not a doctor, lawyer, therapist, teacher, inventor, humanitarian or minister.  Not even president or prime minister.  Famous!  The line of reasoning that one must follow to arrive at that answer has to resemble something similar to the following:

1.  Being famous will be fun.  (My life is not enjoyable enough now.)
2.  People will like me, love me, accept me, if I am famous  (Apparently they don't now.)
3.  People will think I am important if I am famous.  (They don't think so now.)
4.  I will be important if I am famous.   (I am not now.)
5.  I will probably be rich then.  (Even though I don't have a plan to get there.)
6.  Then I will feel fulfilled and satisfied.  (Unlike now.)

This answer is not unique among Irish kids.  Many similar surveys have been done around the world, which have similar disturbing answers that indicate that kids are looking for a magic bullet, and easy way to combat their angst.  With "being famous" as the goal, and no plan or qualifications to get there, are we to assume that it doesn't matter how they arrive at the coveted goal?  Do they not feel a need to be honest, hardworking, diligent, faithful, wise, loving, or even smart or talented?

I have to say that I am disturbed by this.  Not only does this imply a risk that the future leaders of our world don't really acknowledge the primary need for a moral or ethical compass to guide them, but they also apparently don't understand what is entailed in becoming famous, and why people become famous or the conflicts that famous people have to deal with every day.  The building blocks of integrity and hard work and forging strong relationships are not mentioned.  In actuality, most people who become famous have become so as a by product of a strong core belief system and the inner desire to make a contribution to society.  Becoming famous was not their goal, but a by product.  These people developed their self worth in the process of learning and contributing, rather in hoping that they could get it from others. 

We have apparently created younger generations who think that everything is available at the drive through window or the microwave.  All of our technological advances and media savvy societies have demonstrated a life of ease, fashion, makeup, where everyone looks good, smells good and has no problems that can't be solved by simply turning the channel.

The danger implied is that maybe they don't feel a need to be honest or loyal, just successful.  They won't have to make sacrifices or hard choices as long as they are admired.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of hardworking, bright young people out there with a strong sense of integrity.  It just seems that the tide is changing.  The thought process is evolving in a direction that we may not want.

Maybe this kind of information is just a wake up call to those of us who are in a place to influence the younger generation.  It's up to us to encourage our future leaders the importance of core values like faith, integrity, compassion, diligence, love. 

I just returned from a trip to Honduras visiting an important work that is being accomplished there.  Identifying kids who are steeped in poverty and neglect, full of disadvantages and hardships, my friends, Nelle and Jose, founders of  World Resources Group, have developed a plan whereby they pour themselves into a team of  teachers, who in turn, carefully and thoughtfully mentor teens, who are then taught to encourage the younger kids.  All the while, they are emotionally, and financially and spiritually supporting the communities in which these kids and their families live each day. The result is a whole generation of strong, focused youth, who are developing the skills to be leaders of tomorrow, carefully monitored and supported by their communities, teachers and families.  Nelle and Jose have caught the vision and are abating the risk that we are observing in youth around the world. 

                                                           Here I am with a group of those future leaders!

The truth is, we don't have to go all the way to Honduras, or Ireland to help.  Statistics show that 31% of American kids, too, believe that one day , they will be famous.  We need to nurture and strengthen those kids so that, in the off chance that they actually do become famous, they are strong, integrous contributors to society making our world a better place.

For more pictures of my trip to Honduras, go to www.marianneclyde.com.