Inspiration and values from the Today's Voice – UNESCO-CEP panel discussion.

Today's Voice is a project organized by UNESCO-CEP with many practical contents for young people. On October 24, 2015, a seminar on the topic "A NEW STANDARD – GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP" took place with the participation of many reputable guests, one of whom was... Dr. Tran Vinh Du – President of Viet My College.

By participating in the program, the group of students from Viet My College gained many valuable lessons and were further motivated on their journey of self-improvement. We would like to introduce you to the reflections of Dam Le Hong, hoping that we can empathize and receive useful values from the Today's Voice seminar.

On Saturday, October 24, 2015, I had the opportunity to attend an interesting seminar with my fellow Leadership Bootcamp participants. The seminar featured CEOs, CFOs, CCOs, and other highly successful leaders. In addition, prominent academics, professors, and doctors with extensive knowledge and valuable experience also participated. Through the stages of identification (what), evaluation (how), and action (start-up), I gained many new thoughts and insights..

For me, this was a valuable program for students and perhaps for all young people in Vietnam. Concepts that seem abstract and grand, like "global citizen" and "new standards," are actually very familiar and close to our lives, yet are often mistakenly considered alien concepts. The speakers described extremely practical issues regarding the realities of Vietnamese youth in terms of "integration" and "resonance" with the world. Their perspectives, though old-fashioned, highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of today's youth. The guest speakers shared personal stories and observations that nonetheless served to awaken awareness in everyone..

Dr. Bui Tran Phuong shared that a global citizen is someone who always asks many questions to find answers, and is always ready to listen to and answer questions from others. At the beginning, she sparked a new thought in me regarding the question: "What are Vietnamese youth currently facing?" need Is this truly a new standard? And what do they think of the old standard?” That question sparked a new thought in me about the topic of the seminar: “a new standard” can be understood as a broader and brighter vision. Creating a single standard for everyone is like a uniform for the whole world. But if we all head towards the same goal with thought-provoking questions, each person can discover their own new “enlightenment”—an idea, a thought, or even an action—and that is what truly creates change and difference..

Dr. Tran Vinh Du also shared: “If your thoughts and actions only stay within your comfort zone or at the moment you stumble, you will never experience any change. Failure is necessary in life, but learning and finding ways to overcome those shortcomings is even more important. Never blame circumstances or yourself because that will distract you and make you passive in dealing with and handling that failure.” I was very impressed by a quote from the professor about “Everyone around you will only form relationships with those who give them what they need.” This doesn't refer to money or material possessions, but rather to the respect, the expression, and the soul you bring to them. If you are not liked by everyone, don't blame them; instead, consider, evaluate, and renew yourself in a fresh, more open way. Because sometimes, they just want to feel comfortable talking to you, not your appearance or wealth.

.

Everyday stories about life, work, and social activities have led everyone to a new vision of "global citizenship." Some values will change with each stage of development, while others remain core values that serve as a foundation for integration, growth, and self-improvement, enabling us to become more modern and global.

I've identified three things that people always strive to improve throughout their lives:

1. Professionalism: (in communication, in actions, in work and daily life)

• It's first expressed through your self-image (first impression). "Good wood is better than good paint," but if the paint isn't appealing, will you really take the time to carefully examine the quality of the wood in the vast forest?
• This is demonstrated through "speaking habits" and "small actions." As the saying goes, "treat others as you would like to be treated," it's a simple thing, yet many people fail to do it. To improve in this area, we have three golden rules: RESPECT, CONSIDERATION, and SINCERITY.

2. Understanding (knowledge, skills, self and the world around us)

• Learning is eternal and never goes out of style. Learning is not just about copying existing theories, but about improving and developing that knowledge into new, personal knowledge that can be directly applied in life.
• Skills are always the key to life for anyone; they help us think and act to create a new, more advanced and developed generation.
• Understanding is not just about the knowledge surrounding us, but also about the people around us. Analyzing and understanding ourselves and others, breaking down old barriers (ethnicity, religion, education level, or appearance) will give us the most realistic and accurate view of the "global world".

3. Perseverance (learning, failing, and rising again)

• Always ask "why" to better understand new things.
• Be patient in the face of challenges, difficulties, and even failures. They are leverage, not obstacles, if you have enough perseverance and willpower to overcome them.

The above is not everything, but it's the most basic thing everyone needs to have. Breaking out of your shell is easy to say but not easy to do. That's why we need to strive every day by cultivating good habits, because small actions will create great success.

Standards are merely thought-provoking questions; thinking and evaluating are the next steps, and action is demonstrating that you have taken the first step toward becoming a successful global citizen..

As businesspeople and investors have repeatedly emphasized, our lives today are easily accessible to the world from the comfort of our homes, thanks to information technology and social media. For young people in Vietnam, and indeed around the world, "nothing is impossible." Success depends on whether you dare to face challenges, dare to try, and dare to take action. Those who came before us have a wealth of experience gained from challenging and difficult circumstances, so why not proactively connect with them to learn valuable lessons from their real-life experiences? Building connections isn't difficult; it's simply a matter of whether you truly want to. For example, in an interview, when asked about the concept of "global citizenship," one candidate pondered for a long time while others gave insightful and convincing answers, yet she simply replied, "It is the unity." That answer deeply impacted my understanding of the concept of globalization and the current situation of Vietnamese youth..

.Today's Vietnamese youth are increasingly developing intellectually and skillfully, always ready to step out into the world and face challenges. However, it seems they have become so engrossed in striving and achieving success that they have forgotten the relationships around them. They have become "independent," indifferent, even emotionless to the point of becoming instrumental in human interaction. They have become selfish with their knowledge, becoming suspicious and distant from sharing and integrating with their own countrymen. Or some even use their intelligence to achieve their own goals, engaging in illegal activities such as deception and harming one another. Vietnamese people are always praised by the world for their unity, friendliness, and sincerity., But Those inherent qualities are now gradually fading and disappearing. So, where are their new perspectives and standards heading, and why is this happening? Why are we not developing the good old standards but instead gradually forgetting them? Are we integrating or truly dissolving? Is the real reason due to our connection with the world or the very "self-learning" culture of Vietnamese education?.

.From a young age, our education system has inadvertently followed a rut of "just do it without thinking," and when introducing new things, it follows a style of "theoretically and independently researching." Self-learning and research are good, but only when we have a foundation and the ability to differentiate, analyze, and filter information, especially completely new information. A theoretical basis is necessary, but what's crucial is how we embrace what's good to develop our existing foundation. Otherwise, they easily revert to the old habit of learning new things and forgetting the old because they don't understand the meaning of that change. What causes Vietnamese youth to become like this? And are the things they are striving for truly the "new standard"?

These are the questions I've gathered from the recent seminar. My feelings are very personal, but I find them very valuable, and I'm happy to share these insights with everyone. I hope to have more opportunities to participate in youth programs like this.

– Dam Le Hong – 

Author: Viet My College - Date written: October 27, 2015

Category: News - Events

Tags: A NEW STANDARD, GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP, Today's Voice, Tran Vinh Du, UNESCO-CEP