Born Without A Golden Spoon: Can You Still Build Confidence?

Reading about successful people can be a double-edged sword. While their stories inspire, the revelation of their privileged beginnings often dampens that inspiration. They had the golden tickets: affluent families, top-tier schools, and ideal conditions from a young age.

Naturally, they exude confidence. But what about those of us who lack such advantages?

While this sentiment is understandable, it doesn't tell the whole story. Even in less-than-ideal conditions, opportunities for self-development and confidence-building are within reach. Indeed, many successful individuals have risen from challenging backgrounds.

So, how can we "be ourselves," develop self-confidence, and find opportunities in unfavorable circumstances? Dr. Scott Fritzen, President and Principal of Fulbright University Vietnam, discussed this in episode 32 of EduStation. Dr. Fritzen has held several key positions at universities in the United States, China, and Singapore.

With a rich background in academia and experience with various organizations, Dr. Fritzen offers unique insights into building confidence.

How should the environment be to build confidence?

According to Dr. Fritzen, confidence in young people fostered in environments where they feel psychologically safe. This sense of safety allows them to explore the world, discover their potential, and gain confidence.

At Fulbright University, this principle guides the design of both academic and extracurricular programs, which encourage students to open up while preventing them from becoming too comfortable.

In today's rapidly changing society, learning to adapt is crucial. Fulbright promotes diversity, bringing together students from various regions and ethnicities. This diversity helps students develop cultural intelligence and understand that effective problem-solving often requires collaboration.

At Fulbright University, the curriculum is designed to ensure that students receive a broad education before specializing in their major. For instance, students who study Economics are also required to take courses in Geopolitics. This approach gives students a complete understanding of the world. Without grasping the geopolitical context of different regions, they may struggle to apply economic models effectively.

How to build confidence during hardships?

Dr. Fritzen highlights two critical factors for building confidence: self-respect and opportunity. Self-respect usually comes from growing up in an environment where one feels loved and appreciated. Participating in different activities and cultures will naturally build confidence.

However, self-respect is strongly influenced by one's upbringing. Those who experience abuse, neglect, or poverty often struggle with self-respect, doubting their abilities and missing opportunities even when they arise.

Yet, Dr. Fritzen stated that confidence is more a product of experience than environment. Taking action, even in difficult situations, is crucial. Start with manageable tasks to remind yourself of your control, even in difficulties. For instance, if you lose your job, consider seasonal work to maintain your skills and earn money while searching for a new position. These small acts help you maintain control, perceive the direction clearly, and gain natural confidence.

Tips to turn information overload into confidence

Generation Z, having grown up with the internet and technology, faces an overwhelming amount of information. How can they transform this into useful knowledge and wisdom to build confidence?

Dr. Fritzen defines knowledge as information that can be used to solve issues but is not appropriate in every situation. Meanwhile, wisdom involves using knowledge meaningfully to create a value system. By filtering information to extract useful knowledge and then wisdom, we can cultivate confidence.

Even as AI advances, confidence remains essential for problem-solving. While AI can find and synthesize information, it cannot resolve value system conflicts. These issues require human judgment, which depends on a well-established value system. Without this, AI users may find it hard to orient both the tool and their lives.

Translated by Thúy An