The Next Generation
When we talk about “the next generation,” we’re not just talking about tomorrow — we’re talking about right now. The young people in our communities are already stepping up and showing what’s possible when they’re given vision, opportunity, and support. At Journey Beyond The Past, we believe that if we don’t begin building them today, we risk a future without the leadership, creativity, and drive our world needs.
Real Young People, Real Wins
Consider the numerous young entrepreneurs who have started businesses, solved problems, and forged their own path instead of waiting for the “right time.” According to a feature on young entrepreneurs, there are those who launched thriving companies before the age of 21. One report found that in the 18-to-24 year age group, nearly 24% are currently entrepreneurs, and 21% intend to start a business in the next three years.
These are not passive trends — they reflect a generation ready to leap into leadership, innovation, and enterprise. Their creativity, curiosity, and willingness to take risk make them powerful agents of change. As one blog noted: young people bring fresh perspectives, are less constrained by “how things have always been,” and so are perfectly positioned to command new frontiers.
Why It Matters to the Economy & Our Communities
The economy isn’t static. The jobs of tomorrow will require flexibility, creative thinking, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and more. Our communities will lean on a new generation of doers — not just workers — who can invent, adapt, lead, and create. If the young people aren’t ready for that, the risk is huge: stagnation.
Imagine a world where our youth are ill-equipped to innovate or rise to the challenges of change. That’s why we don’t wait. We don’t hope they’ll figure it out — we build them.
Why the Time is Right — and Urgent
Today’s young people aren’t children of yesterday’s systems. They’ve grown up with rapid change, digital tools, shifting job markets, global connectivity. That means they have both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead. But opportunity doesn’t automatically translate to readiness. The training, mentorship, real-world exposure — those need to come now.
Charts show that the youngest adult demographics are already starting businesses at higher rates than older groups. So the question isn’t can they — it’s will we give them what they need to succeed?
Our Focus at Journey Beyond The Past
At Journey Beyond The Past, we’re deeply committed to helping young people become successful not just in the narrow sense of employment, but in life: to be entrepreneurs, community leaders, innovators, changemakers. Here’s how we approach it:
- Early engagement: Start with middle school, high school — not just after graduation.
- Skills + mindsets: Creative thinking, problem-solving, financial literacy, leadership, self-motivation.
- Experiences: Hands-on projects, real mentors, exposure to business/startup environments.
- Community & purpose: Ensuring that young people feel connected, valued, and aware of the difference they can make.
If you’re reading this, you’re part of this movement. Whether you’re a parent, mentor, educator, business leader, donor, or neighbor — your role matters. The young people around us — the next generation — can become the pillars of our economy and society. But they won’t just “become” that on their own. They need our investment, our belief, our scaffolding.
The future will not build itself. We have to build it by building them.
It all began with a simple idea fueled by a deep passion. As a small business, we pride ourselves on personal attention and dedication to every detail. Our approach is rooted in quality and integrity, ensuring that everything we do reflects our commitment to excellence.
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