Last weekend I attended the Eagle Scout award ceremony of a family friend. The young man tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal but you could tell he was proud of his accomplishment. And well he should be. It’s not an easy thing to achieve Eagle Scout rank. It takes dedication and service.

Eagle Scout really isn’t just an award or an achievement, it’s a testament to a person’s character. The lessons they learn and the hard work they perform helps shape them into the person they are today. 

This young man had been in Scouts since he was a young Tiger Scout. He worked his way up through the Boy Scout ranks, from Scout to Tenderfoot, and on to Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life.

After working his way through the ranks, he had to accomplish all the tasks required of an Eagle Scout. Throughout the years he earned 21 merit badges, 13 of which had to be in specific areas. He served his troop as a leader, participated in a Scoutmaster conference, and planned, proposed, and executed a service project that benefited the community. Lastly, he took part in the special Eagle Scout Board of Review.

Only around 6% of Boy Scouts ever obtain Eagle rank. It’s a story of perseverance.

This same young man will graduate this spring with both a high school diploma and a two-year associates degree. He’s attending the U of M next year to study chemistry. 

It seems most adults today believe there’s no hope for the future, that today’s youth are lazy, spoiled, entitled, narcissistic and egotistical. They bash young people, having no doubt that under their future leadership society will regress instead of progress. They call them ‘snowflakes.’

I don’t agree. While there’s always been and always will be troubled youth, most will step up when the time comes. Every generation has ‘good’ and ‘bad’ people. Most young people want to change the world.

A recent study found that globally, young people are more optimistic about the future than older generations. Despite all the challenges they face they also have increasing opportunities, and they’re entering adulthood confident in themselves, full of ideas on how to improve the world we live in. Case studies from around the globe illustrate these findings, showing how young people everywhere are stepping up where previous generations have fallen short.

They’re full of hope, innovation and imagination. They’re problem solvers who have the potential to generate a positive social change in the world, and technology has made that world a much smaller place with unlimited possibilities.

People everywhere are increasingly attempting to make the world a better place through their lifestyles, their careers and the products they buy. They’re trying to reduce their carbon footprint and smart corporations are following suit. 

What many people don’t realize is that it’s young people who are driving this revolution. Two of my own children are pursuing careers in conservation and the environment, and one of them now eats mostly vegetarian and buys natural and organic products whenever possible.

I’ve met so many young people in my life and throughout my career that are proving the naysayers wrong. They’re interested in the community and helping others, they’re interested in the environment and what needs to be done, and they’re interested in making the best of themselves. 

The one thing most have in common is their enthusiasm. All of the youth, elementary to young adult, that I’ve spoken with while writing for the Citizen-Tribune have been excited about whatever it was that I was talking to them about. They’ve also been polite, respectful, and well-spoken. 

Our youth can change the world for the better. We just need to let them.