How can we encourage today's young generation to be more intellectual and ambitious ?

Question

Nowadays, preeteens, teenagers and young adults seem more concerned about materialistic possessions, physical appearance, etc .. than about knowledge and learning, and being ambitious, and wanting to make a difference in the world.. What can society do to encourage intellect and ambition?

Answer 1

Since the dawn of mankind, every generation has lamented the generations following them, calling them the same things you did: lazy, greedy, vain, etc. Yet, we always move forward and evolve as a society, right? And technology and medical advances and quality of lifee just keep getting better.
Thus, the answer to this paradox is: young people have pretty much stayed the same as for as values over the year. It's YOU that change as you get older! Today's generation will be fine, just as the one before it was, and the one before that, and....

Answer 2

Sadly with how the world has been shaped lately it is the "me" generation where most are concerned with only themselves. So much information is provided it seems a lazy whats the point attitude. The world's resources will be used up by 2050 giving this generation the last full life, the best of technology with the world still intact. Adaptation to a new planet is futile. Unless the world's people take some drastic initiative and get their head out of their asses. People are pushing more than ever religious schools to give morals. But with sympathy for this "me" generation its stupid, possible empathy...seeing everything from a different point of view. A very good book i once read was called "Siddhartha" which helped alot. But yet it would seem hard to push knowledge with the works of Aristotle and the great philosophers. With so many rules put down by their local churches (speaking mainly for the Christian non child abuse crowd) and schools they get fed up and try to take every was possible for their immediate goals scared to think about the future.
fellow teen
-wranderer

Answer 3

Society could easily turn things around. Taking the sexual influence out of everything for starters. The young adults down to the eight year old kids are exposed to an extreme sexual pressure. The next step is for parents to install the desire to learn in their babies. Stop letting TV babysit and start reading to them. Play games that help them learn. As our society moves forward and make more advances the harder the job of the parents become. The home is were we make the difference. Letting our youth think Paris Hilton is a role model is were our problems begin.

Answer 4

I think you'd be surprised how many young people are actively involved in making the world a better place. The media makes teens out to be insensitive, lazy, and materialistic, but I work with teens every day and am amazed at their sensitivity and concern for human life. I work with middle school kids. They don't always seem ambitious, but I have many students come back and am astonished at their accomplishments! I think we just have to continue to promote a better and healthy life and do what we can as adults to be better role models.

Answer 5

Maybe by making more "cool" shows on tv like CSI, but with characters that are straight out of college.....maybe some cool trendy shows about scientific research for cures for diseases, shows about engineers that build things like space gear, etc. Instead of glamorizing things like gangsta thug lifestyles (you'd think that with all the money they make that they could afford better dental work), they should start making it "cool" to be in college, working toward some useful field of employment.

Answer 6

Role models. Good role models getting rewarded for their good work. Who do they see now? Movie stars on their 5th marriages, raping sports celebs, rappers getting paid to sing about killing people, crooked CEOs making millions, liers, cheats, killers, rapists, crooks-all becoming famous, rich and never paying much of a price. How many people can you name that work at the National Institutes of Health? How about who will be on NBC on Monday night?

Answer 7

It all begins at home !!! Kids will be who their parents teach them to be. School plays a factor but with strong parents and morals, any child will over come the bad influences that the school put out.

Answer 8

I think there is a possibility that animals are becoming more intelligent nowadays and humans are lesser as computers take over our lives. Who knows in future like in 200 years, cross breeding will take place between animals and humans as the differences between them narrow down.

Answer 9

Regardless of what you say or do, like the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink it'

Answer 10

you never know. their large interest in material possesions could get them a job as creator of such thing. and their interest in physical apperance could get them a highly paid job as a model of some sorts