Humans are dreamers. I believe humans are good by nature, we dream, we hope. When thinking of the future we imagine utopian settings. We imagine a world that is connected to nature, we imagine inclusivity, we imagine flexibility, we imagine a world with technology as a tool that will allow us to have more freedom. Humans have been able to achieve amazing things throughout history.
I had many conversations with students from different ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. Almost everyone I spoke to had utopian dreams of how the future will look like.
Cheyenne imagined a physical space that was more connected to nature. Nicole imagined a space that was non – existent, where everyone could create their own hours and their own space, collaborating when necessary but working individually when not. Diego speculated an inclusive workplace, where gender and race was always considered. When I speculate, I think of a place where you are not an “architect” or a “graphic designer” or an “engineer”, but a place where you can roam into many professions and they can all collide. I see the future of work where we are all entrepreneurs and freelancers, we control our time, and we choose how much time we want or don’t want to work. You are responsible for your own wellbeing, your own time. We would not need governments to “protect us” or companies to have “friendly policies” for their employees.
It’s important to also be realistic and consider the challenges that come with making these dreams a reality. We must recognize that not everyone has the privilege to dream and that there are many obstacles that stand in the way of progress. It is essential that we work towards creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to dream, and where we can use our creativity and innovation to build a better future for all. While some people dream of a future with no schedules that can pursue multiple professions, others might want job security of getting a pay check every month. It is important to remember that all perspectives are valid and that there is no one size-fits-all solution.
I asked my daughter (16), who wants to be a musical theatre performer, how she visualizes the future of work, “I hope it is exactly as it is now.” She went to see ABBA the voyage this week, at one point in the show the microphone tumbles, for a minute she thought it would fall and then realized it was not real. What is going to happen to performers if they can’t perform anymore?
I hope we learn to utilize technology as a tool and not something that controls us. It is something we should all strive to do, while also being mindful of the limitations and challenges that we face.
I feel privileged to be part of the dreamers.