Train Children: America Needs to Wake Up

America, Wake Up

Isn’t it time America trained its children for success?
We can no longer assume that raising and educating the next generation is solely the school’s responsibility. Every parent wants their child to thrive, but when children lack support and live in poverty, many give up hope before they ever get a fair chance.

When we think of academic success in the U.S., one group often comes to mind: Asian students. But why is that? Why do certain immigrant groups seem to excel in education and science, surpassing their U.S.-born peers? It’s time to take a deeper look—and to ask ourselves how we can emulate that success.

Train the Children

Take the Nigerian-American community, for example. Like Asians, Nigerians often excel in science, medicine, and academia. Talk to any Nigerian parent, and you’ll see pride glowing on their face as they share stories of their children winning scholarships, attending prestigious universities, and pursuing careers in fields like engineering, law, and medicine.

Is their success due to food like Jollof rice and chicken (as some jokingly suggest)? Or is it the cultural emphasis on education, discipline, and hard work? The truth likely lies in a combination of family structure, community support, and a deeply ingrained hunger to succeed despite humble beginnings.

Cultural Foundations for Success

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened doors for highly skilled immigrants—especially those from Africa and Asia—to enter the U.S. Often, these immigrants came already equipped with formal education, professional training, and English language skills.

In both African and Asian cultures, there is a shared foundation of clan unity and extended family support. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles step in to guide, mentor, and discipline the children when needed. This creates an environment of unconditional love mixed with accountability, allowing children to thrive even in low-income situations.

They may live together in small spaces and work multiple jobs—but education remains a top priority. They are raising the next generation of doctors, engineers, scientists, and leaders.

Time to Wake Up, America

Many immigrants arrive with little but manage to build lives of success and contribution. Nigerians alone have produced multiple MacArthur “Genius Grant” winners in the past few years—a feat that shows what’s possible when education, culture, and family align.

Why can’t we replicate this success model in the broader American context?

The Real Difference: Early Training

These families instill values early:

• Discipline

• Responsibility

• Respect for education

• Support from elders and the community

They teach children that hardship is not a reason to give up but motivation to strive harder.

In contrast, many American teens, especially from underprivileged backgrounds, lack guidance, structure, and belief. A large percentage come from single-parent homes, and without consistent encouragement, many fall through the cracks.

Train the Children, Transform the Nation

It’s time for America to wake up. If we want to see real, lasting progress, we must learn from the examples of cultures that prioritize training and discipline. We must:

• Invest in community-led mentoring programs

• Reinforce family values and structure

• Normalize educational excellence across all demographics

• Equip children with life skills and emotional resilience

The Bottom Line

All children, regardless of their background, deserve access to quality education, structure, love, and opportunity. When we train our youth with intention, we raise leaders, not just graduates.

It’s not too late to rewrite the narrative.
America, the time to train our children is now.