In my late teen years, after many hours of ridiculous soul-searching, I've come to grips with the fact that I am a Millenial, inside-and-out. So what does this cryptic term even mean? For starters, it is the latest generation at the tail-end of the timeline of the human race. Millenials are notoriously characterized by their adaptive use of technology, which has inherently led to peculiar recurring habits, such as Tweeting. However, a Millenial is more than that. On the inside, we fight a bitter struggle-- one which is sprung from our insecurities resulting from the current circumstances. Confronting the uncertain reality of a recessive economy, we are driven by our resolve to stay out of our parents' basements after college, no matter what the cost. At least such is my goal, as I enter my Freshman year. It is an uphill battle. But I have my eyes dead-set on success and will not look back. Like any real Millenial would, I expect to do this with the internet there to help me along every step of the way.
College is a sea of opportunity. According to the website of my school, the University of California San Diego, there are myriads of clubs, organizations, and classes to take, which are only the tip of the iceberg of opportunities, that the internet has brought to my awareness. The greatest thing of all about college, I believe, is the people. Never again will I have the chance to be around peers who are so multi-talented, smart, and driven to change the world. Finding ways to connect with these people have never been more important. Perhaps one day, they will be important contacts who will collaborate with me in my future career. Fortunately with the internet, doing this is easier than ever. Social gatherings and events are a click of a button away. Maintaining and developing relationships now has an alternative route through social media, when the hassles of daily life gets in the way. Even previous traditions like networking for jobs can be bypassed, with friends and acquaintances posting open positions and internships online. Despite the challenges of a recessive economy, we Millenials have the most advanced tool available to human civilization yet. It's just a matter of how resourceful we are with it.
If I had a magical crystal ball to see my future in four years, I would likely see myself working in my field of study, which is engineering. Not only does this job allow for professional and personal growth, it causes me to constantly push the creative boundaries of my mind, which is necessary in the process of designing new and innovative products. This way, I know that I am utilizing myself to my fullest potential in an intellectually-stimulating way, that translates into real world results in a finished product. Since my robotics class in high school, I am constantly looking for new hands-on learning experiences to prepare me for becoming the engineer that I want to be. With an amazing stroke of luck, I was able to find this opportunity through my school website -- the IDEA Scholars Program. After applying for it, I was accepted, which will provide me with the mentorship and research opportunities that I need, to nourish my hunger for skills as an aspiring engineer. Other opportunities that the internet has made me aware of are the engineering projects that I can work on, such as the Global TIES program. It provides engineering students from my school with the chance to work in teams, solving real world problems. Used in the right way, the internet is the greatest match-maker of opportunity around.
Even when I become an engineer, I know that the internet will continue to play an important role in my life. Its vast databases allow storage of limitless information on material properties, physics equations, and chemical structures that will come to frequent use in my career. This reliable availability of information allows me the freedom to focus on other things, such as utilizing and applying the information to the best of my abilities. As a result, I can find the most practical ways to design a product for greater energy efficiency, structural integrity, and performance enhancement. Not only would this mean a superior final product, but a more satisfied customer as well.
Sometimes moving forward is the best way to make sense of the past. This is what I've come to realize -- that there lies an optimistic future ahead. Growing up, I've seen the wrenching fearful on my parents' faces when it comes to discussion of the economy and the latest wave of job layoffs. Experts say that my generation is predicted to have less financial stability and success than the generation of my parents'. However, that is not what I believe. I see wonderful things, like the internet, that have enormous potential in bringing back new jobs, while helping us perform better at the ones we already have. Technological innovation will be our future. It's bound to spurr growth to new heights out of our current situation, and simultaneously enhance the existence of the human condition while at it.
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