There are roughly seven living American generations. Two of these 20th Century generations (Greatest, and Silent) lived in a world 80-100 years ago, mostly before or during the Great Depression, and New Deal (1932-1945 era), when Americans of the day didn't have television, internet, mobile phones, video games, or DoorDash. They woke up each day, went to work, had no car, or a much slower car, ate dinner with family and kids, and lived much more simply, often carrying with them thousands of years of passed-down wisdom.
Here's a list I'm fairly certain older living generations would agree with:
1. Personal Responsibility: It's your life. Show up on time, do good work, don't complain. Take Responsibility. If you legit messed up, or didn't realize you messed up, instead of getting defensive, or lashing out, own it. People will respect you more. Learn the lesson, improve yourself, and move on. Life moves on.
2. Character: We don't talk about character these days the way the nation once did, and lived. Traits of honesty, respect, integrity, a life of hard work, honor, were commonplace in our culture from 1776 through the 1980s, and still are today with those who grew up in the 20th Century, but it's a point worth noting that John Wayne once said (in character), "Words are what men live by, words they say and mean."
Quote: "Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, sincerity, and hardihood, the virtues that made America." -Teddy Roosevelt (26th President)
3. Self Improvement: America was founded by men (Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington) who were schooled in European Enlightenment and self-improvement. They read a lot, and always worked to better themselves. 250 years later, all of these men have many monuments in their name around the nation.
4. Study Books: Read and study books. Try to read or study a book a week. Read or study 100 books a year. I may not read 100 books cover to cover each year, but I easily study 100+ books each year. Read the classics (Treasure Island, Grapes of Wrath, Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Robinson Crusoe), and get to know America's greatest authors: Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck. If someone 3x your age hands you a classic book with genuine intent that you will read it and broaden your knowledge and life experience, read the book.
5. Know American and World History: For thousands of years, humans passed history and ancient wisdom from one generation to the next. Near 30 years of the internet age has chipped away at this tradition. As John F. Kennedy (35th U.S. President) said of American history, "There is little that is more important for an American citizen to know than the history and traditions of his country. Without such knowledge, he stands uncertain and defenseless before the world, knowing where he has come from nor where he is going." Should know about the American Revolution (1775-1783), the Civil War (1861-1865), and both World War wars to start. Also check out the Gettysburg Address (1863), America's greatest speech. Once upon time in 1969, American even landed on the moon. That was a pretty big deal.
6. Learn American Frontier History: Almost lost in memory (but not quite yet) is America's great frontier era (1776-1910), where settlers and pioneers traveled by wagon trains and horseback, often under great hardship Westward to all parts of the nation to find a better life, and build new cities. Stories of cowboys and Indians were all too real, but there are great myths of the Old West too, you can find in endless Western movies from the 20th Century. Many Americans (not all of course) of the frontier era had some of the finest character in world history.
7. Treat Elders With Respect: Hold the door open for an elder, or offer to help an elderly person cross the street. Don't think because you are young and ambitious, you know more than adults around you, or your elders who fought in wars (World War ll, Korea, Vietnam, etc), and worked hard for 50-60 years earning their keep. I get in this day and age, saying sir or ma'am comes off as offensive (weird), but it's a show of respect. When possible, listen to elders tell their stories of war, and life experience. You might learn something.
8. Know the Value of a Dollar: Wisdom of the ages. Money doesn't grow on trees. Spend what you can afford. Live within your means. Don't drive yourself into deep debt. Pay off your credit cards. Learn how money works.
9. Forgiveness: Holding onto grudges can hold people back in life. Everyone makes mistakes. Sooner or later, ok to forgive and move on, vs. carrying that baggage for a lifetime.
10. Value Marriage and Relationships: When 50 years of a society does a poor job teaching newer generations about marriage and relationships, it's the welcome burden of those who know better to teach others what they know.
11. Honor Your Mother and Father: Good Friday and Easter occurred last weekend, and Passover is coming soon. Politically correct or not, 70%+ of Americans still believe in traditional Biblical values (whether they practice or not), and America is literally built on The Ten Commandments. I'll spare you all 10, but imagine a nation evolving well into the late 20th Century where generation after generation after generation grew up being taught to not steal, and honor your parents. That really happened.
12. Have Good Math Skills: Practice doing math problems in your head, mainly multiplication and division, so you can crank out math answers in seconds. When you get into business or running a business later in life, you might thank me.