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Generation Z Resilience Quite Simply Doesn’t Exist

By Mandeep K Bhandal, on 21 August 2013

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Following a two week Internship Programme at ISRS, Imani McKoy provides an assessment of what resilience means for her generation.

Generation Z resilience quite simply doesn’t exist

Well of course it does but to an extremely small degree.

In school we’re taught Science, Maths, English and how to please an examiner. We’re not taught how to apply the things we learn in these extremely interesting subjects to our everyday and future lives – quite odd considering the emphasis they place on knowing what we want to do and where we want to go in life. For the older generation, awareness of resilience is surely helpful but not vital to the extent that it is for both mine and younger generations. Why? Well because issues like global warming and material scarcity, are less likely to affect them as they’ll no longer be here to face these problems at their peak. However, awareness and understanding of resilience and its importance is vital for the development and sustainability of theory and practice as the younger generations proceed.

At 17 years old, I hold a pretty firm idea of what I wish to do and where I want to go in life, but that’s not because I was born within a court of law or with a passion for heavily bound books; it is because during my years, I have explored various fields and ideas – enabling me to form a calculated decision based on what I’ll enjoy. Having spent almost two weeks at the Institute for Security and Resilience Studies, I have been able to view things in a different light to how I would have previously. Looking at the wider picture has become an essential part of my time here at ISRS, not only broadening my mind to the kinds of issues present – but the kinds of problems that can arise as a result. Having mainly studied Science for all of my academic life, I can now see how linking ideas and concepts fit into a practical working environment; but that was not due to the curriculum – that was due to ISRS. More specifically, it was due to me taking my own time to pertain to an environment and way of thinking that I wasn’t used to and realising that everything is in fact networked.

As part of the tedious Key Stage 3 curriculum in most secondary schools, we’re forced to study Citizenship; which means several hours per week of relatively useless discussions about Religion, Racism and Ethnic Minorities – which don’t get me wrong, are fundamental concepts to be covered, but again we have to look at the wider picture. The time spent teaching what 84% of the world’s religiously practicing population is learning, either at home or at the church, mosque, temple etc. should be used to highlight the issues arising in today’s world and how central we are as a force to deal with them.

Resilience is a subject that should most certainly be drafted into the curriculum, perhaps not as a mainstream subject but at least as a discipline. During this internship I have realised that not enough of us acknowledge or are even aware of the importance that resilience has over our lives; particularly seeing as though it is essential to all work environments whether you want to be a doctor, barrister, diplomat or even teacher. Having at least a basic knowledge and understanding of resilience would benefit the younger generations as well as my own, in the sense that the decisions we make and actions we take will be based more upon tactical judgement, rather than relative assumption.

Generation Z resilience exists – we just don’t know it yet.

 

 

 

 

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