Embrace
the Change
Education is one of the longest and most extensive
processes that Americans go through. For those who graduate high school and are
lucky enough to receive a college education go on to even more schooling need
to evaluate what exactly the intend to get out of college. For most people,
that answer is a job. These four years are the student’s time to make important
life decisions in order to get them where they want to be. But, this is not
where the process ends. With the constant changes taking place in the work
world today, everyone must learn to grow with these changes. If they don’t,
their options of employment in the modern day work world will seem scarce.
Technology, an obvious attribute to the change in the world,
is experiencing constant updates and discoveries in the work place. As a
result, it is extremely important for all people to familiarize themselves with
the knowledge of technological advances and what is needed to remain on the top
of their game. In the article, “I Feel So Damn Lucky!” Tom Peters encourages workers
to adapt to the developments technology brings. He claims that people, “need
not be a technologist perse, but [people] must embrace technology. ‘Coping’
with it is not enough” (Peters 162). This quote insists that in order to truly
stay ahead of the changing game, everyone has to continue to grow with the
transformations, not just accept the change. Richard W. Judy and Carol D’ Amico
discuss their opinion of technology and its ever present, but always changing
impact of the work world in the article entitled, “Work And Workers in the Twenty-First
Century.” They declare that the creation and use of newer products will very
possibly form more jobs than the original technology might get rid of (Judy and
D’Amico 165). This leaves the hope that technology will help to not only make
jobs, but also increase the number of jobs. The
Economist endorses the same belief as Judy and D’Amico in his article, “Into
the Unknown.” The writer believes that since the machines can perform the same
task as humans for a cheaper cost, because the higher demand for goods and
services will spark new businesses run by entrepreneurs who need employees (176).
The growth of business will be a huge help in decreasing job insecurities. Both
Judy and D’Amico and The Economist
believe that there are still many jobs out there and more jobs coming, even
with the new technological dependence we live with. Technology has come a very
long way in the past several decades, and it is improving rapidly in the
present day. All of these authors see technology as a growing source that
people have to go along with in order to come out on the successful side of
things.
Secondly, the topic of globalization, which is a widely
discussed issue facing today’s people, threatens to bring major changes to the
American workplace. Judy and D’Amico discuss the subject of globalization in
their article, “Work and Workers in the Twenty-First Century.” They find that
American workers will, “compete for jobs and wages not just with their
counterparts across town or in other parts of the U.S., but also with
low-skilled workers around the globe.” (Judy and D’Amico 166) Their view on
globalization helps to enforce the fact that change is occurring and Americans
have to be more prepared than ever to fight for the jobs they want. Lucky for
them, there are people who believe that there are still jobs that offer
financial safety and comfort. Thomas L. Freidman expresses his understandings
of this issue in his article, “The Untouchables”. The title explains much of
what he believes is necessary for Americans to receive and keep the jobs they
desire. He asserts that there are jobs in which people can have some stability
or as he puts it, “anchored” into the job. He communicates that, “regardless of
[the] worker’s level of sophistication, their wages will be set by the local
market forces of supply and demand” (Friedman 172). To further explain his
point, we can envision a worker finding a steady job where their salary relies
on the demand of the product or service provided. Both Judy and D’Amico and
Friedman speak of wages and job security. They each believe that in today’s
world, jobs are wanted badly by a lot of people. Judy and D’Amico state that
competition is in full swing, whereas Friedman holds that there are still jobs
out there that will guarantee stability. Although they may seem like opposing
points, there is absolute truth to both claims. Jobs are becoming harder to get
with the rise in competition, but there will always be jobs are attainable and
protected.
Education is another aspect that is changing in the world
today. Students must learn to stay aware of the changes in their education, so
that they can be better prepared to move with the changing work force. Thomas
L. Friedman believes that students need to, “reorient what they are learning
and educators how they are teaching it.” (Friedman 171) This aids to provoke
discussion of updating how and what we learn as students. The world is
continually changing, so education must change with it for growth to last. Friedman
believed that both teachers and students must reevaluate the habits they have
become accustomed to throughout the years. Another source speaks of the belief
that change must occur in the lower grade levels to create more social competent
students. Alan S. Blinder also speaks on the topic of education by discussing
his belief that student’s imaginations and people skills, such as
communication, need to be further developed through their elementary and
secondary educations. The world is increasing in, “personally delivered
services”. (Blinder 12) Social skill training needs to become even more
prevalent in school systems than it already is, to insure well developed people
skills in future workers. Both Friedman and Blinder speak of the need for
change in the education system in order to better the knowledge and skills of
the future generations. This will help them be prepared for the unpredictable
work life they have in store.
In conclusion, people need to use their years in
college to prepare themselves for a new type of work environment, one where
they don’t always know what comes next. One of the only consistent things about
the work world and the world in general is that change is happening all the
time. Technology is rapidly improving and new discoveries are being made,
globalization is a fear consuming American workers, and education is in need of
being updated. College is the time for students to discover what their good at,
what their passionate about, and what their calling or vocation is. Yet, it is
also time for them to learn the necessary skills and lessons essential for them
to be a good employee and an excellent addition to the ever-changing work force
they will one day join.
Works
Cited
Blinder,
Alan S. “Will Your Job Be Exported?” Writing
in the Disciplines. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011.
8-13. Print.
Economist,
The. “Into the Unknown.” Writing in the
Disciplines. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011. 175-78.
Print.
Friedman,
Thomas L. “The Untouchables” Writing in
the Disciplines. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011.
169-72. Print.
Judy,
Richard W. and Carol D’Amico. “Work and Workers in the Twenty-First Century.” Writing in the Disciplines. Eds.
Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011. 163-68. Print.
Peters,
Tom. “I Feel So Damn Lucky!” Writing in
the Disciplines. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011.
160-63. Print.
Sennett,
Richard. “No Long Term: New Work and the Corrosion of Character.” Writing in the Disciplines. Eds.
Laurence Behrens and Arthur Rosen. Boston, 2011. 150-59. Print.
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