What Are the Key Challenges Facing Your Generation? Essay Example

There are many considerations for challenges in which my generation faces. There are many social and ethical issues that vary from person to person, however one of the more pressing issue is technology.

The emergence of the global Digital revolution has provoked a number of impacts on people’s life. Lately, the influence of the global digitalization has extremely affected older generations’ behaviour towards society. Despite the fact that this revolution has also activated considerable positive effects which improves life in general. Moreover, one generation, the precursor group of this revolution lives this radical change in a singular way, which also constantly challenges their life; this ‘Millennial Generation’, is my generation. In this essay, definition of this generation and main effects of the Digital revolution will be discuss in the first part. The following part will argue in depth about the impact of my generation and the emergence of the society new paradigm. Finally, the third part will present the social responsibility of this generation which is one important characteristic.

Commonly known as ‘Generation Y’, ‘Gen Y’, ‘Echo Boom’ and ‘Generation 9/11’, it is a post-modern group of individuals born from 1982 to early 2000s. In 2010, they represented 25% of the world population, eclipsing the size of the Baby Boomers (born 1943 to 1960) to become the largest generation known so far. They are also the first generation to have grown up immersed in digital technology surrounded by rapid technological changes. It is a substantial difference from the Baby Boomers technology exposure. Considering this is the first generation to grow up in such a unique environment, which, consequently presents new challenges towards us and the society. An innate familiarity and need of technology is the most single important difference between Gen Y and earlier generations. Space-time is challenging the millennial generation most; not only this continuum experience requires us to adapt faster but it also urges us to understand and learn how to anticipate the market trends. The millennial revolution triggered an unprecedented fast shifting era. It requires a rapid adaptation to the shift and knowledge of how to do so.

In parallel with globalisation, businesses and international organisations have attempted to control and adapt to this significant transformation, at times this adaptation has led managers to take enormous strategic economic risk. Consequently, the financial crisis occurred in many corporations which resulted in the global financial crisis especially in developed countries, placing a terrifying number of people, especially from my generation ‘workrupted’ in their home country. The opportunities seem to be unlimited, despite the vast amount of limitations which surface on a regular basis. Beyond our unique upbringing what truly separates us from other generations is our technological immersion and our comfort with using digital tools to navigate and communicate. The resources have evolved, as has the potential that they provide for the users. As Millenials we inherently understand the role that communication technology, the Internet and instant access to information plays in modern’s life. Access to information and communication is instantaneous, which is vital for business. The world has become more united than in the past as technological gadget allows us to be interconnected continuously.

My generation is the precursor of a post-modernism paradigm. By definition, the postmodernism paradigm saw the end of the universal truth and the rise of relativistic history (the difference between integrity and authenticity). There is an opportunity to validate authenticity and integrity at a much more efficient manner than previously. Hierarchies continue to flatten, but time is becoming less linear with the internet. The lines between past and present are blurring; we can now be in different places at once. Many post-modernists reject the notion of absolute truth. They no longer trust authority and they reject any institution that claims to have a claim on the truth. They have become highly suspicious of facts. They believe that all truth, even to some extent scientific knowledge, is subjective, biased, and socially constructed. Truth depends on what one’s culture regards as truth. Therefore, their perception of truth is not really true. Defining truth is virtually impossible, what one holds as true another challenges as being fictitious. This challenge has no real solution and rests solely on justification.

In the postmodern worldview, Gen Yers have become their own authority and accept only what they personally experience. There is a sense that feeling is all that counts because, in the end, feeling is all there is.  Everyone’s feelings vary, it becomes difficult to create any type of unification or justification. Although, these extents to which this is accurate varies across different culture and countries. Furthermore, the generation’s formative life experience started with the 9/11 terrorist attacks followed by the invasion of Iraq, globalisation, economic recession and school violence, these events have shaped their mindset as citizens of the world. Expressing, acting and debating with a different and singular prospective than our peers did in the past are also distinctive features for which we struggle daily. We have been exposed to challenges and events which differ significantly from other generations. With the digital age, comes the exposure of individual success and misery. Individuals of the modern day can live and relive events, keeping them fresh. Previous generations often forget the impact because the events quickly become history with no methods of further exploration. As a result, discrimination against communities has dramatically evolved and increased.  When constantly fighting apathy, there is more disparity inside a community, it becomes harder to find a consensus about this generation and within it. Whether it is direct or indirect action, this generation is socially responsible and eager to become a culture changer: Concepts about the common goods are not dreams anymore, they have become reality in their hands. There is a deep sense of purpose in implementing these new values in a society that perceives happiness and success for all as a utopia, it is hard challenge of which we are aware.

As digital natives, this generation is more exposed to humanitarian and social issues through the Internet. We have developed a certain empathetic consciousness about others. In particular, young adults, are resolved to have an Internet identity that they can modify anytime, displaying to the world their personal digital footprint about themselves, a cause or topic they care about. This is done in many different ways, one of the most prominent is social media. Additionally, many of us are recognised as passive activists instead of pro-active militant. Organized movements can be realised online on a Facebook page, for example, where opinions are discussed and shared, although the involvement and actions are present. Besides, this generation has a lot of “keyboard rebels”. There is an urge to click and pay as an alternative to physical actions. Sometimes it is easier to be an advocate for a cause behind a computer screen than it is take action in real life. This does not cause any harm in revolution through consumption as long as the cause is being supported. In this post-humanitarian era, grand emotions of pity, guilt and the attendant moral frameworks can be translated and observed online as well as a ‘technologisation of action’, where actions are commodified.

Consequently, this influences the inclination of values and morals in this world and questions about the digitalization of action. Digital revolution and society’s new paradigm are interconnected: from cause to effect, the digital world initiates the cosmopolitan version of global connectivity. Furthermore, this has contributed to a ‘democratisation of responsibility’, in the sense that this techno savvy public feels concern about other’s personal problems, somehow feeling related either to the person or the actual issue. In a particular way from our older relatives, we strongly react, which is not always well comprehended and assimilated. As a result, older generations are deeply suspicious of grand claims due to a lack of knowledge and a clumsy judgement. Therefore, this is challenging the millennial generation. The digital revolution has brought many advantages along with disadvantages that my generation is forced to address.  The access to such a vast amount of information can be as big of a threat to the user as it is beneficial. My generation is expected to do something, not just rely on the evolution of technology.

The key challenges are complex. My generation was born at the peak of a new eon. We became adults during an era of radical change. Moreover, the limitless aspects of technology revolution has made the notion of time deeply questioned. Freedom of expression is driving us in all aspects of life such as education, social life, religion, culture, workplace and more. The outcomes are currently seen on the news: Generation Y is in the spotlight fighting for their mindset rights but also for individual rights around the world.

Please comment on an important learning experience you have been through. It could be a moment of success or one of failure:

My work experience in Dubai is my most important learning experience. This unique experience has influenced me in many aspects professionally and personally.

August 2014, I flew to the United Arab Emirates after being awarded and internship placement which lasted for four months in an international media consultancy company. There was hesitation at first regarding this undertaking, despite of being an inquisitive nature, I did not have any particular interest to discover this region of the world. Furthermore, at the time of my candidacy I was travelling in South America after I completed a semester abroad program in Brazil. The culture in Brazil, which I deeply adore, is the complete opposite of the Middle-East and Arabic culture, I was aware of a potential culture shock but I was driven by the unique work opportunity in Dubai and challenging my mindset limits. There is a vast amount of learning potential when exposure to business in new cultures occurs.  I was excited by the knowledge and practice I will learn in this international and Middle-Est business hub while facing few personal challenges.

My arrival in Dubai was indeed a culture shock that I was experiencing every day deeper and deeper. It started with the weather was the most extreme I ever experienced with 40 degrees. Every day I was hiking and walking around, the weather and travel was very difficult. Being in an Arabic and Islamic country, with this particular weather make it arduous as women must be well covered and not show much part of their body. Unlikely, in South America from where I was coming from, there is no restricted dress code. It required a significant amount of adapting culturally before even being exposed to the learning opportunities. Respecting culture manners, I surely followed the rules but struggled when meeting people socially and seeing that women dress following their taste and not the rules.

Additionally, the society population composition is quite interesting; consisting of 85% of immigrants, only 10 to 15% of the population of Dubai are Emiratis. The majority of the immigrants came from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, coming to work in the construction industry. It provided a lot of cultural exposure opportunities in this internship. When taking the metro it is possible to feel that we are likely in India or Pakistan such most not to say all travelers are from there. Another noticeable fact is there are much more men than women; in the metro women wagon can be found but during peak time the number of male passengers being enormous female section is reduced. Likewise, the average age in Dubai is 30 years-old and it is rare to see older people, individual aged more than 64 years old represents 1% of the city population. The age variation also proved to be quite different than what I was accustom to.

The United Arab Emirates is a very young country. It is such young country that it is hard to speak of an identity of this nation. If there are, of course, a cultural aspect, it is actually one that consists of imported cultures. Even Emiratis, except some old members of the royal family, are actually “recent” Iranian immigrants. The result is a clear lack of benchmarks, consistency, which is perfectly normal for a country of 44 years old. To overcome the lack of history, the Emiratis were then burrowed happily in Muslim Arab traditions. All rehabilitated in an extraordinarily modern universe. Where you can make a reservation is when religion starts to fill the Penal Code. Indeed, under the pretext of Islam, the country fell into draconian laws. It is far different than any other experience I had in South America. The very strict laws and regulations controlled many aspects of lives. Note the housing bans roommates, consume pork or alcohol, or the freedom to play music in public places during Ramadan … I insist that the religious fact is only a pretext and it is not to be attributed directly to the religion of how laws are made. This is actually a very convenient way to manage people without having to account on adopted procedures.  In reality, all transgressions from the prohibitions of Islam are widely tolerated. You will easily find alcohol in specialty bars, pork is renamed “meat for non-Muslims” in supermarkets and over 80% of the population lives in shared only solution to the exorbitant rents.

My work experience was stimulating and challenging because it was an industry in which I did not have any previous experience. I was exposed to a wealth of knowledge and the need to adapt to cultures which differ from what I am accustom to. This internship was supposed to be in Public Relations area and ended up being more in Sales, International business and hospitality sector. With the set of different services and products offered by the company (hotels promotional video, government promotional video, business storytelling video…etc) I was able to initiate myself in further disciplines such as politics, regional business manners, economy, business and more in order to be the most accurate and efficient possible. The learning opportunity allowed me to take knowledge learned in classroom settings and implement the many variations necessary to be successful in business.

The company headquarter is in Amsterdam, with a branch in South Africa, Sao Paulo and the newest in Dubai. It was established 2 years ago with a team of very operational and highly skilled, constituted of 3 independent women, including the co-founder of the company, the regional director and the production and operations manager. Working closely with all of them, inspiring me each day, they have taught me how to approach businesses in a more professional ways, to contact and discuss with governmental representatives from different countries, to handle and adapt to a business meeting in the Middle East region, to be more aggressive when willing to achieve an important goal and especially that I have a leadership instinct. Learning from women who are considered to be a second-rate member of society also allowed me to learn a lot from this opportunity. I also discovered that I really dislike the Sales field, the unethical part of it and I really like the opportunity to be immersed further into International business discipline. Despite the fact that this company was treating me well and the team was proud of my work, I was neither satisfied by the work I was producing nor seduced by this field and the country I was living.

The culture shock was weakening my mind and made me questioned myself a lot about my career goal, my future expectations and my actual skills. Never having had exposure to such cultural dictation, it was not easy to adapt in the short period of time. It also allowed me to see that in order to be successful in my future business, there has to be a certain amount of comfort and respect for the culture. In addition, I was touched by a parent sickness, which has dramatically lower my enthusiasm of being in Dubai. It became harder and harder to immerse myself into this culture, especially to comprehend the vast composition of it. Despite the challenges I was facing, I did not want to abandon my responsibilities, this was not part of my nature. Instead, I kept pushing my limits, focusing in long-term goal and the impact this experience will have on my person and my career. Unfortunately, at the end of my second month, it was with extreme sadness that I left the UAE, the condition of my parent worsen I had to flew back. It was difficult because of the feeling of obligation to the internship, however, family is also an important consideration in life. By nature, I am much reserved about my deepest feeling and it was hard to assume my out coming emotions in this environment and to my colleagues. Making the decision to leave was the one of the most challenging act I done: I had the choice to shut down my emotion and selfishly focus on my career or let my emotions drive me and ‘quite’ with no possibility to come back. For the first time, I have felt loneliness and the limitations of personal spirit.

I conceive this as an important learning experience because it had challenged me for the first time to inflexible points never explore. I was exposed to a world that was much different than what I am accustom, which is vital in any business setting. It also challenged me to weigh the personal obligations of business and external factors which are presented in life on a daily basis. It was not an easy decision, and despite the difficulties that were faces in the UAE, I feel that I retained a lot of learning that I had been oblivious to prior. The experience taught me to be more tolerant about myself, be satisfy about my achieved objectives and assuming weaknesses could become my greatest strength in the future. Also that from negative to positive experience, with time the overview show that it is a life experience and all of these experiences need to be taken into account.