Our Future Identity

Identity crisis is a worldwide pandemic right now!

People are struggling with one of the most fundamental questions of life: Who am I? This confusion doesn’t suddenly appear in adulthood, it often takes root much earlier and builds up slowly until we see adults having a so-called "mid-life crisis".

The truth is, if you don't know who you are, any other life forming question after that will be left blank or filled with the wrong answer. Questions like What is my purpose in life? What was I made to do? and What impact can I make in the world?

So often, our adult life is a journey of figuring out who we really are so that we can figure out what our purpose is...but why start then? Why not start earlier?

Imagine if you grew up already knowing who you were. Imagine if your sense of self was grounded in truth and you were confident in your identity from a young age. Imagine if you were aware of the unique gifts and strengths you carry as a child or teenager. Imagine stepping into adulthood without the burden of searching endlessly for meaning, but instead walking with clarity, assurance and direction.

That is why the formation of identity from a young age is vital to a child’s success.

At Our Future Generation, we believe that knowledge, identity and hope are pivotal to forming a generation who are rooted in faith, emotionally whole and intellectually prepared and equipped to lead families, communities and nations toward truth and purpose.

As you have guessed, today, I will focus on identity...

Identity crisis is a worldwide pandemic right now! People are either ignorant or confused about who they are. And when there is confusion about identity, there will be confusion about purpose. But what if we could prevent this pandemic from occurring...

The reality is that we cannot form a secure identity on our own and that is even more obvious with children. Identity is not something that naturally unfolds without guidance. Forming an early sense of identity is our children requires affirmation, nurture and truth spoken over and over again by the people closest to them. Family plays the first and most important role in this process! Education should also play a vital part in this process. Schools are not only places of academic instruction but also environments where values, confidence and self-understanding are shaped. And remember that children spend the majority of their lives in schools and educational institutions.

Leaving children to work out their identity by themselves, especially when they do not even fully comprehend the world they live in, is dangerous!

This danger is all the more pressing because of the society we live in today. Children are being fed misinformation about who they are from every corner of culture. Social media, entertainment and even elements of the education system sometimes send conflicting and confusing messages, urging them to “find themselves” by following the loudest voice of the moment. The result is often comparison, pressure and uncertainty. Without strong guidance, children can easily build their self-image on shaky foundations and grow up unsure of who they truly are.

But when identity is rooted in truth, the results are transformational. A child confident in who they are becomes unstoppable in what they can achieve. Secure identity acts as a shield, protecting them from doubt, insecurity and external voices that seek to limit or redefine them. When a child knows their worth, they can face setbacks with resilience, pursue opportunities with courage and build relationships from a place of confidence rather than fear. Success in life is not merely about intelligence, resources or opportunity - it begins with the clarity of knowing who you are!

As educators, our job is not only to teach knowledge but to lead children down the right path in forming their identity. This means creating environments that affirm their strengths, nurture their gifts and remind them of the values that will sustain them. Most importantly, it means helping them tap into the truth of who God created them to be from the beginning. Identity is not invented, it is discovered. Each child is created with purpose, uniqueness and potential that can only be fully realised when they are guided towards the truth of their creation.

The world may try to confuse, distract or distort their identity, but our role is to protect children from those voices and direct them towards clarity and truth. We must be intentional in shaping their understanding of self, because a child left to drift will be vulnerable to every opinion and ideology that comes their way. But a child rooted in identity - spoken into them by family, reinforced through education and grounded in God’s design - will not be easily shaken. They will know their worth, embrace their calling and step into the future with confidence.

Identity is not a side issue, it is the foundation on which success is built. If we want to raise a generation that is fulfilled, resilient and purpose-driven, we must prioritise identity from the very beginning. Because when children know who they are, they will grow into adults who live with clarity, purpose and impact. And when their identity is secure, their success becomes unstoppable.

I believe that this should be the foundation for education. This should be the foundation for which our education system operates...building up our children with knowledge, identity and hope so they are prepared for the future.