November 26, 2009

Last month, my 10 year old nephew, Gagan Mathew, had an opportunity to deliver a speech in his school on a topic of his choice. I am going to reproduce his short speech to the best of ability because he did share the transcript with me. So, here goes..

“Hello all,
Today, I would like to talk to you all about Video Gaming. When we talk gaming, the immediate reaction you get from parents is a big ‘NO’ for their kids. But if you think of it, gaming has many positive sides to it. It refreshes and relaxes at the same time. It helps us think and act fast. It builds stronger brain power by getting us to think about strategies to win. For e.g. a game like Need for Speed keeps us on the toes and ensures we build quick reflexes. A game like Modern Warfare forces us to think and build strategies to attack the enemies. So, to me, gaming is a healthy and positive exercise. At the same time, what we cannot do is to get lost in them. We have to strike a balance and manage the time. We also need to ensure we pick the right games that stimulate our senses and help our growth. I would like to call this Positive Gaming. So, I strongly request all parents to not look at gaming as a bad thing to do but as a good activity that can help in overall development of their kids. I know my parents do and I love them for that. Thank you.”

To be honest, I was taken aback by his speech. I thought it spoke a lot about his maturity at such a young age and an indication of the kind of person he is going to grow up to be. That got me thinking about the future and the adults of tomorrow. How kids and young adults view their lives, futures, their world - the environment they live in, their interactions with people around them, their outlook towards their future etc.

I strongly believe a new, better generation has come of age, shaped by an unprecedented revolution in technology and dramatic events in their respective societies. They are Generation Next, young adults and kids who are growing up with Notebooks, PCs, cell phones, XBoxs, PlayStations and the Internet and are now defining their future. There has been a steady transformation between the different generations – from the Seniors to the baby boomers, from Generation X (the one I belong to) to the Generation Next (the one my nephew belongs to)

I also think Generation Next will have better educational and job opportunities. Their social and political outlook should be more positive too. I expect a better tolerance towards issues such as immigration, economic divide, race and homosexuality. They will continue to use technology to connect and collaborate with people across the world and adapt to globalization trends. Having said that, I also think about the ill effects of the world they are growing up in. Dramatic events such as a terror attack, a financial crisis, a religious shift, natural disasters, political thoughts, easy access to disruptive information and tools can change one’s outlook towards life. A very easy goal in life for a Gen nexter today would be to “get rich” or “get famous” which should never be the primary focus. They are a “Look at me” generation. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Myspace have let the Gen Nexters create profiles and share their interests and hobbies. The opportunities they have can either be transformed into 'exciting' outcomes or 'explosive' outcomes. A better education and environment will help them make the right choices.

Our actions today define our tomorrow. Generation X has a lot of responsibility to build a better world for Generation Next to thrive and succeed and in turn shape a better future for the next generation to come.

The portrait today of the Generation Next is a positive one with global opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, build better societies, improve quality of life and contribute to overall development and growth.

I know my nephew will exploit the opportunities to do good and I am proud of him!