Ambassador Tom Schieffer: A Statesman Who Makes Time for Young People
There are few statesmen like Ambassador Tom Schieffer.
He served the United States as ambassador to both Japan and Australia and has been recognized by the Japanese and Australian governments, the U.S. Department of State, and national security and law-enforcement agencies. His accomplishments could easily create distance between him and the young people who hope to enter public service.
Instead, he makes time for them.
Before our Sister Cities International Youth Ambassadors left to live and work in Japan, Ambassador Schieffer was scheduled to spend 45 minutes with the group. He stayed for three hours, skipped lunch, and continued answering questions and encouraging them. The young ambassadors still talk about that conversation.
That choice illustrates something important about leadership. Experience becomes more valuable when it is shared. A title may give a person influence, but generosity determines how that influence reaches the next generation.
Young people considering public service need more than general encouragement. They need access to leaders who will answer honest questions, describe difficult realities, and show them that their ambitions are worth taking seriously. Sometimes a single conversation with someone they respect can expand what they believe is possible.
Ambassador Schieffer proudly calls Fort Worth home, and our community benefits from his example. His willingness to invest in young leaders demonstrates that mentorship does not always require a formal program. It begins by being present, listening carefully, and giving someone more time than the calendar says they deserve.
The Youth Ambassadors went to Japan carrying his advice, but they also carried the memory of a distinguished public servant who chose not to rush away. That may have been the most powerful lesson of all.
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