I was built for this day and age. The 21st Century. The Information Age. The Digital Age. It doesn't matter what you want to call it, the fact is, I was born at the right time. Don't get me wrong. Like everyone else, I fantasize about living during other time periods. I'm often loading my musket in the Revolutionary War, trudging down the Silk Road, loading an arrow while defending a medieval English castle, conversing with Socrates, or organizing an uprising against the totalitarian government of the dystopian future. However, consciously, I would not change a single fact about my life. Even if you gave me a googolplex number of chances to change the date I materialized in this world, I would choose Jan. 12, 1991 every time.
Why is this time in history so perfect for me? Why have I always considered myself the "prototype of future man?" The answer lies in who I am, what I believe in, and how I was raised. I'm definitely not the first of "my kind." But this "new kind of living" is something that has always been intuitive to my being. And because it is natural to me, it's hard for me to express my mindset to other people. Here is my attempt at it.
I'm interested in all things. Learning is a passion of mine. This universe is just wonderful. You, humans, are such amazing creatures! Sure, you have plenty of flaws, but that's what makes you beautiful! If you interact with me, you'll know my answer to the question-people-like-to-ask-undergrads-the-most: What are you going to do with your life? My answer will resemble something like this: Everything! There are things to do, places to see, people to meet. Of course, most people will just think I'm like the next undecided student. Others will ask me what my major is, learn that it is history, and proceed to ask if I want to become a lawyer. Such is the life of the nonconformist!
Honestly, I do know what I want to do. There are so many things I want to do. I'm also 21 years old and there is no point in limiting my options. For me, I'm just getting started with learning and gaining experience. My top priority, at this point, is to continue building my repertoire of skills. Every skill I gain, whether that is writing, speaking, video editing, or making coffee, will help me in the future.
My interests have shifted every single year in college. However, the wisdom I've gained from those experiences will help me in my future endeavors. I've always wondered what my strength was. My worry has always been my lack of a singular passion. Some people are in love with biology, others devote their lives to law, but I was always the individual who excelled across the board but never possessed a burning passion for a single subject. I always told myself that my strength was my adaptability and ability to pick things up quickly. Now, I see the true value in that strength especially in this modern world.
Nurture
My parents are probably the biggest reason why I am the way I am. My father is a real life jack-of-all-trades. He is intelligent and capable in anything he sets his mind to. A history major, he is mathematically and scientifically inclined as well. He was a complete novice and stranger to computers in the early 90s. After a few trips to the library and many hours of tinkering with the hardware and software, he became a computer wiz. To this day, family friends and relatives still approach him for computer troubleshooting. Additionally, he is a handyman. He completed renovated our house, knocking down walls, rewiring circuits, and everything else that the job consisted of. Throughout my life, we'd never had to go to a car mechanic because the problem was always taken care of by my dear father.
My mother is also an intelligent woman. Like my father, she is quick on her feet. Practical solutions came naturally to her around the house. She is resourceful and learns quickly as well. She is a fearless and daring individual If I ever had any problems with my schoolwork, my mother could figure it out, even if she'd never learned it before. Growing up, I had two perfect role models. I was raised to be open-minded, to be well-rounded. I wasn't pressured to become a doctor or lawyer. I was taught to work hard and play hard. But most importantly, I was taught to think for myself. My decisions were mine to make. My life was mine to live. I owe my parents for all the support they've given me.
The Modern World
So what is so different about the modern world? Change and innovation is happening at a monumental pace, a rhythm that speeds up every time you blink. Science and technology are advancing so rapidly that the cutting-edge gadget of today becomes outdated by dinnertime. The way our society interacts with each other is also morphing. The internet has created another dimension to our reality, a whole world next to our physical manifestations. Traditional ways of life are becoming tenuous. The job market is unpredictable. There are jobs now that didn't exist five years ago. There will be jobs in the five years that didn't exist now.
These ideas that I've held have constantly been confirmed in new developments throughout the last few years. Jobs like social media editors now exist in 2012 but might disappear just as quickly. Startups rise to prominence and fall in a span of a few years. Recently, I encountered an article in the magazine, Fast Company, titled "The Secrets of Generation Flux." In essence, this article encapsulated the status of modern business, chaotic and unpredictable, and the success of those who belong to "Generation Flux," a group of adaptable, talented, and innovative individuals.
The article features a lineup of successful individuals who have illustrious careers doing a variety of things. For example, one individual, DJ Patil,
In this highly tumultuous climate, it is about having the ability to move on to the next thing. It is important to stop being sentimental about the past and remember what it is you have learned. Raina Kumra, another individual featured in the article, said,
Most Adaptable?
The article ends with this quote from Charles Darwin:
Source
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/162/generation-flux-future-of-business
Nurture
My parents are probably the biggest reason why I am the way I am. My father is a real life jack-of-all-trades. He is intelligent and capable in anything he sets his mind to. A history major, he is mathematically and scientifically inclined as well. He was a complete novice and stranger to computers in the early 90s. After a few trips to the library and many hours of tinkering with the hardware and software, he became a computer wiz. To this day, family friends and relatives still approach him for computer troubleshooting. Additionally, he is a handyman. He completed renovated our house, knocking down walls, rewiring circuits, and everything else that the job consisted of. Throughout my life, we'd never had to go to a car mechanic because the problem was always taken care of by my dear father.
My mother is also an intelligent woman. Like my father, she is quick on her feet. Practical solutions came naturally to her around the house. She is resourceful and learns quickly as well. She is a fearless and daring individual If I ever had any problems with my schoolwork, my mother could figure it out, even if she'd never learned it before. Growing up, I had two perfect role models. I was raised to be open-minded, to be well-rounded. I wasn't pressured to become a doctor or lawyer. I was taught to work hard and play hard. But most importantly, I was taught to think for myself. My decisions were mine to make. My life was mine to live. I owe my parents for all the support they've given me.
The Modern World
So what is so different about the modern world? Change and innovation is happening at a monumental pace, a rhythm that speeds up every time you blink. Science and technology are advancing so rapidly that the cutting-edge gadget of today becomes outdated by dinnertime. The way our society interacts with each other is also morphing. The internet has created another dimension to our reality, a whole world next to our physical manifestations. Traditional ways of life are becoming tenuous. The job market is unpredictable. There are jobs now that didn't exist five years ago. There will be jobs in the five years that didn't exist now.
These ideas that I've held have constantly been confirmed in new developments throughout the last few years. Jobs like social media editors now exist in 2012 but might disappear just as quickly. Startups rise to prominence and fall in a span of a few years. Recently, I encountered an article in the magazine, Fast Company, titled "The Secrets of Generation Flux." In essence, this article encapsulated the status of modern business, chaotic and unpredictable, and the success of those who belong to "Generation Flux," a group of adaptable, talented, and innovative individuals.
The article features a lineup of successful individuals who have illustrious careers doing a variety of things. For example, one individual, DJ Patil,
"is now an expert in chaos theory, among other mathematical disciplines. He has applied computational science to help the Defense Department with threat assessments and bioweapons containment; he worked for eBay on web security and payment fraud; he was chief scientist at LinkedIn, before joining venture-capital firm Greylock Partners."Individuals belonging to "Generation Flux" are able to apply the skills they accumulate through previous ventures and use it to their advantage wherever they may end up.
In this highly tumultuous climate, it is about having the ability to move on to the next thing. It is important to stop being sentimental about the past and remember what it is you have learned. Raina Kumra, another individual featured in the article, said,
"Fear holds a lot of people back. I'm skill hoarding. Every time I update my resume. I see the path that I didn't know would be. You keep throwing things into your backpack, and eventually you'll have everything in your tool kit."I, Jeffrey Shiau, agree with this statement completely. That is exactly what I've been trying to do all these years!
Most Adaptable?
The article ends with this quote from Charles Darwin:
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives; nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."I'm am neither the strongest nor the most intelligent. Heck, I'm probably not even the most adaptable. While I fit the mold of what I like to call the "prototype of future man," I might not be the most advanced model out there. But if there is any point in history that I'd have the best chance of success, it would be now.
Source
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/162/generation-flux-future-of-business
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