5 Skills We Learn from the Younger Generation

The future of the world today lies in the hands of young people belonging to the millennial generation, the generation "Z", and the generation that will follow them. These young people were born in a digital, globalized, rapidly changing, insecure, and wide-ranging society. Therefore, the way they view the world is very different from the way their parents. This opens another door to more new challenges and opportunities. In this article, we will focus on some of the values and ideas inspired by young people, and how they deal with the challenges and opportunities of their modern world.

5 Things we learn from the younger generation:

1. Globalization.
2. Digitalization.
3. Communication.
4. Accommodation.
5. Motives.

1. Globalization:

Young people grew up in an interconnected world through a global network, and they used to deal with different entertainment methods from other countries. They now listen to modern Korean music, watch Spanish football matches, read British news, make friends with people from all over the world, and surf global worksites.

In addition, they are accustomed to the idea of no borders, exceeding them, and accessing the elements of foreign cultures with the utmost ease, and this is  what their grandparents wanted and described it as strange, but for these young people, it is normal.

The most important feature of the modern generation is their interest in equality between peoples. Their direct and continuous contact with other cultures led to the inspection of different lifestyles and varying standards of living, which enhanced their understanding of how different global conditions relate to peoples, and prompted them to compare between them.

Thus, equality has become a major demand and challenge in their view, while their grandparents did not have the same awareness of the difference of nations and inequality among the world's peoples, which forces the youth of today to increase and raise awareness and knowledge.

Lessons learned from youth on globalization:

• Openness and movement with conscious curiosity when facing the unknown.
• Awareness of how to communicate between nations and communities.
• Well-behaved responsibly in the interests of the world community.
• Utilizing globalization to learn about different cultures and diverse lifestyles, and to seeking job opportunities and an extensive study.

2. Digitization:

Digitization emerged only a few decades ago. It was linked to the emergence of the Internet, which expanded its spread on a global scale, and this in turn led to push the world towards qualitative leaps. Entering digitization into our lives has been - and still is - difficult for many. However, today's young people have grown up in this digital world, and they are good at benefiting from it and adapting to the modern technologies that are discovered.

They understand how tools work best, adapt to modern technologies, adapt them to their needs, predict the future of technologies, and work to achieve future predictions.

Lessons learned from youth related to digitization:

• Using modern technologies, and keeping pace with their development and harnessing them to suit our needs.
• Enjoying modern digital tools and technologies instead of excessive and bad use of them.
• We have to adapt to technology, change with it, and use it flexibly to be ready to receive any additional potential.

3. Communication:

The advantage of communication lies between the elements of globalization and digitization. Globalization has led us to recognize each other's needs across nations and cultures. Digitization provided us with the necessary tools to create relationships that transcend borders between countries. This communication has been one of the results of this technical, cultural mix, and an excellent opportunity for nations and individuals to communicate with each other and to influence and be influenced by each other.

Once again, the rise of young people in this interconnected world has led us to learn how to build and maintain communication across the globe, as well as to observe the relationship of modern technologies to the latest trends, and the impact of this in enhancing human communication and maximizing the benefits of communication between our devices and countries and global challenges.

It is therefore not surprising when the young woman active in environmental protection Greta Thunberg was able to create a global event entitled “Fridays for the Future.” This girl was able to influence public opinion, use digital tools to spread the movement widely, and perhaps did not think about the results, but acted on her sense of responsibility for the world in which she grew up and was associated with every part of it.

Lessons learned from youth related to global communication:

• Increase productivity, harmony, and efficiency by linking tools.
• Communicate with all over the world and spread ideas quickly and widely.
• Understand the interrelationship between people, nations and trends.

4. Adaptation:

The world has recently changed faster than ever. To succeed in it, you must learn to adapt. Young people have grown up in this rapidly changing world, and thus acquiring natural resilience and adapting to the conditions around them throughout their childhood and adolescence. After modern devices swept the market, new challenges have emerged along with the old challenges that continue, and many trends have spread to shape the surrounding environment.

Young people have taken the lead in adapting and harnessing the world according to their life perspective. They are demanding that companies and organizations change according to the directions that interest them. For example, sustainability and equity are so important for many young people that they are willing to boycott brands if they do not meet these standards.

Lessons learned from youth related to resilience:

• Not attached to old habits.
• Seeing change as an opportunity, not as a
• Contribute to change in society.

5. Motivations:

What most distinguishes young people today is the motivation and desire for leadership. They feel an urgent need to solve global challenges. They know that leaving these challenges unresolved will negatively affect their future. For this reason, they follow their values accurately and take action to improve the world. They also believe in the idea that avoiding immediate change will lead to failure in the future. Therefore, they harness enormous efforts to ensure positive change in the world, as they have a strong motivation, passion, and will.

Lessons learned from youth related to motivations:

• Don't lose sight of the urgent need to influence global challenges.
• Take action on important issues.
• Follow our values to be a living example of what we believe in.