“Everything’s going to change now, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

This quote from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sums up the lives of many young adults at this time of year.

Summer is halfway over, and a period of reflection sets in.

Each year of life brings new challenges and thrills.

But growing up in this era as a college student is unlike it has ever been.

Communication is supposed to be at the top of its game, along with technology and intelligence.

But are college students really leaving their institutions with the skills needed to take on the real world in all its harshness?

Some might say yes, yet others scoff at who we’ve become and are skeptical of our readiness to take on the tasks at hand.

Is the world ready for us, and are we ready for the world?

Millenials, also known as Generation Y, are both ready for the challenges of the world and completely unprepared.

Millenials grew up with the emergence of computers, cell phones and the Internet.

We grew up knowing how to obtain the information needed to get by and to “learn.”

We grew along with the technology, taking comfort in the fact that it would be there in sticky situations.

A silent, electrical friend we know we’d always have.

Imagine how different college would have been without the Internet.

Without cell phones, texting, Facebook or Twitter.

Would we even know how to function?

Generation Y would struggle – hard.

So, while our respective institutions have raised us well in a tech-savvy world, taking a step back to see what we’ve really learned is important.

Technology is ever-changing, as are humans.

And, while it will always continue to grow, technology is not what propels us through the world.

Our brains will always be our greatest asset as humans, but only if we use them to the greatest capacity and continue to always push limits.

There will always be a limit to how much a piece of technology can accomplish, but our brains don’t have a gigabyte capacity.

Being as prepared as possible for the “real world” by taking advantage of the experiences we’re provided can decrease the ongoing stereotypes Millenials endure.

Being just as informed as previous generations while using technology as a tool, not a crutch, should be a goal.

The world will pass us by if we don’t look up from our glowing phone screens and web browsers every now and then.

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].