The Differences of Generations

Yesterday, I took part in the China High School Students Social Impact Fund (CHSSI) competition, and even though I have not received the formal results just yet, I want to share how I feel about the competition and how I think it made an impact on who I am and how I perceive the world.

A lot of the judges work in investment and finance, which are jobs that are closely related to working with different projects that have different aims. However, perhaps it is because of the different ideas and goals of the different generations (referring to the different generations of the competitors and the judges), they somehow are incredibly skeptical of what the projects' aims are and whether they will work or not. For example, when a team introduced their therapy program for teens and how they will manage it both as an online and offline program, one of the judges asked:"If you guys are running this program, how will you keep up with your studies?" I was incredibly confused because all the teams were presenting their own projects so what makes them not able to manage their time? Also, a lot of judges were worried that the projects are not able to be continued once the high schoolers graduate, but isn't continuation something that can be done both in college and the coming classes in high school? It seems like the judges were not even interested in any of the projects, but just listening to them like they are imagination and unrealistic plans and daydreams that will never be achieved, even when a lot of the projects have already been executed and have made a huge difference across schools and communities in China.

The older generation may be more "realistic" and more attached to the safer and more traditional careers and paths. However, because of the younger generation having the opportunity to see so many other projects and people succeeding with what they are doing by following their dreams and doing what their heart tells them to do, we are able to follow our own dreams and do what we want to do by pursuing this love and passion. This type of energy will only be understood by the same generation, because it is only the people who grew up in this era who will be able to resonate with this level of ambition and love for what they do.