What Success Means To Youth In Our Cultures

Success means achieving meaningful goals through hard work, determination, and patience. For many young people in Pakistan, success means getting a good education, finding a stable job, and supporting their families. However, many students in Pakistan do not have equal opportunities. In some areas, there is poor internet service, fewer schools, and limited career guidance. Many talented young people cannot fully show their skills because they do not have proper facilities. Even after these problems, Pakistani youth continue to work hard for a better future.

As a student, I also face many difficulties in my journey toward success. Sometimes it becomes hard to continue my studies because of financial problems, lack of resources, and worry about the future. Still, I try my best to stay focused and never give up on my dreams. Many people from Pakistan have shown that success is possible with hard work and dedication. Sadiq Khan faced many challenges but worked hard and became the Mayor of London. Malala Yousafzai worked for girls’ education and became famous around the world. Arfa Karim became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at a very young age and made Pakistan proud internationally.

In conclusion, the young generation of Pakistan is talented, creative, and full of dreams. They only need better opportunities, modern facilities, and support to compete with the world. Access to education, technology, and skill programs can help many students achieve success. International organizations can play an important role by creating learning opportunities and encouraging talented youth. With proper support and equal chances, Pakistani young people can represent their country proudly at the international level

-Syeda Sharmeen Ashraf, Pakistan

In France, success has always been tied to a very specific path: doing well in school, getting into a good university, and landing a stable, well paying job. French society places a lot of value on academic achievement, and young people grow up feeling that pressure early on. The baccalauréat, the grandes écoles, the "serious" careers, these are the milestones that are supposed to define whether you have made it or not.

Personally, I have felt this pressure too. There were moments where I questioned my own choices, wondering if the path I was taking was "good enough" by society's standards. But looking around me, I also see more and more young people in France refusing to follow that traditional model, choosing passion over prestige, mental health over status, and meaning over money. That shift feels important to me.

I believe success is not something that should be handed down by your culture, is something you build yourself. France has always produced people who broke the rules and redefined what was possible, from Simone de Beauvoir challenging social norms to Teddy Riner rising from a modest background to become a world champion. To me, true success means having the courage to define your own goals and pursue them on your own terms.

-Marie, France