To the Young Adults

 

   

What’s in store for us? What next?

This is the question that bothers all of us at the moment, irrespective of how old or young we are.

While many older adults find the post-pandemic situation threatening, younger adults like you may have plenty of questions and concerns.

Many of you may see the tired, scared faces of your own parents and decide against voicing your own fears about the future.

We do not know the precise moment the world changed ,but all of us know it has indeed changed dramatically.

But some things never change.

I am putting down some points I discuss with my own children and hope it will be of some use to you.

I list below the things that would matter in any time period, any place.

 

 

*A good and positive attitude towards work and knowledge.

Skills and knowledge that define “success” as we see it, change with time and place.

For example, the skill of stringing flowers together /garland making would be lucrative only where there is a demand for flower garlands.

The knowledge of language XYZ would be useful only where there is a demand for the same.

A positive attitude towards skills and knowledge means, a person will be able to reinvent himself/herself every time a change happens.

Be ever-ready for change. Do not set yourselves in concrete as far as skills /knowledge are concerned.

Values can be set, but skills/knowledge need not be.

 

*Learn hands on, what’s relevant to your field.

For example, if you are studying to be an electrical engineer, observe and learn how to make simple repairs.

Admire their work and learn from masons, plumbers and electricians. Tomorrow you will be working with them. You can’t tell them or order them what to do if you don’t know how to do that , at least in theory.

 

Deepen your understanding of fundamentals

Whatever you are studying to be, try to revisit the fundamentals and make yourselves more aware of the concepts.

Learn Ohm’s law or Fourier’s law, for example, as these are laws that won’t change because of any pandemic.

Strengthen yourselves on the technicalities of your branch of study and also how it relates with other branches of study.

Explore entrepreneurial opportunities available in your field.  

Take notes of what you think will work and it may come useful to you or someone you know .

 

Research companies that are related to your field and their work.

Take notes on the companies you think that will be useful to you. This will help you in building your networking skills too. Think of this as an academic exercise for now.

 

Take some time off from your chosen field and learn some life skills, like cooking or book keeping.

This could be any useful activity that you are interested in. This need not be related to your field at all. but when you spend a little time, say, cleaning out your cupboards or folding clothes neatly, you become occupied with a physical activity. It actually freshens up the mind.

Making this a routine actually relaxes the mind and new ideas open up during this time.

And whatever happens,

 

Never lose your cheer!

” Life always finds a way” as the professor says in “Jurassic Park”!  

The world has seen a lot and will see some more. It has always bounced back.  Strong people stay on and achieve success. Where needed, they redefine what the word success means.

Do not get carried away by the success stories that only talk about CEO' s of multinational companies. There are so many other people who are successful in their own right but don't get noticed by the world.

Any problem has N number of solutions where N may be one or any number above one.

Try to find the solution not for the sake of being different from others, but for the sake of finding a solution that really works.

 

Respect your culture or respect where you are from

Remember you are a product of a great civilization that has given more to the world in terms of knowledge and skills.

Spend time with your parents /grandparents or older adults who you admire. Learn what they know and do not allow that knowledge to end with them. They would be too happy to teach that skill to you and it may even come useful to you in solving problems in your own field.

The world may practice more somersaults in future, but we can keep ourselves sharply aware of changes and react in a positive way.

The world needs problem solvers now. All your young lives you had been used to a certain idea about intelligence or success. That may have to change now.

You are not too old to understand that memory to reproduce what’s read doesn’t always indicate intelligence.

Solving problems in the best way by using minimal resources is intelligence.

Common sense is intelligence.

You are young enough to reinvent yourselves with ease.

All the best!