There’s something very energizing about spending time with young adults. I find this especially true of those who have a vision, no matter how small, of their future and are open to an exchange of ideas. They are open books to some extent, with both introductory pages that they want to share as well as blank pages just waiting for the right idea to arrive.
I had the pleasure of talking with a few young ladies tonight, one who will graduate in June and target device companies for her first industry job. Talking with her took me back in time to when I was graduating from college freshly armed with my degree in nursing. I was lucky; I had already landed a position in the critical care unit at a local trauma center. I was set. I just needed to pass my NCLEX exam.
Now, many years later, I feel so blessed with all my nursing license has allowed me to experience. From the hospital to pharma, my career has evolved, allowing me to adapt to the changes in my life. As I listen to these young adults, and also as I think of my boys, I note how different today is from when I was younger. It’s hard not to worry about them and wonder if they have all the tools they need to survive in the current work force. Certainly, I worry if I myself have the necessary tools at my own disposal.
These young adults are our future and they are emerging from college at a scary time. But they, with all of their enthusiasm, are brave or naive (take your pick) in their journey. Regardless, the future awaits…
Their stories are just beginning and there are so many blank pages to fill. I pray that they will keep their enthusiasm, chase their dreams, and make this world a better place because of it.