Foster Youth Leadership: Lessons Learned From Peaches & Social Media

In today’s society, it seems as if everyone wants to be an overnight celebrity. With recent trends of, “going viral,” in Social Media, the average Joe (and Jane) can become famous and well-paid at the click of a mouse. Are values like, hard work, practice, and discipline becoming obsolete in an age where people can gain access to their15 minutes of fame with a few million views and followers?

One of the leadership topics that I enjoy discussing with foster youth is discovering their passion. I encourage them to find out what they are good at, and to start developing those skills as early as possible. Whether its sports, science, writing, or any other interests, the main objective is to first identify their skills and then work hard to master them so that they can become the best in their craft.

The recent situation with Arizona peach crops has highlighted the need for young people to get back to the basics of going through the process of leadership development. This process includes character building, humility, and even a, “waiting period,” as they enhance their skills through growth and maturity.

In Arizona, peach crops are in trouble. Due to the unusual warm weather and dry spells, peach trees are beginning to blossom in the wrong season! This could present huge economic challenges for the peach industry! To make things simple, peaches are good when they are produced in the right season. Coming too soon or too late can have negative consequences from an economic perspective.

In the same way, I enjoy encouraging youth in foster care to embrace and develop their talents and skills, but not be in a huge rush to get fame and fortune right away! Any doctor will promote the value of studying and preparation! Any professional athlete will recommend consistent practice to refine one’s skills. Rushing to be in the spotlight too soon, could potentially limit opportunities for youth who are talented, but may still need more maturity. Delaying the process could result in regrets and missed opportunities. Although there is no magic formula to determine when to seek stardom if that’s the goal, I encourage youth in foster care to take some time to learn and grow so that they can become the most effective leader possible.