Well, it’s time for another incoming class of ex-high schoolers to step up to higher learning. And this year those freshmen were born way back in that ancient year of ye old 1993. Of course, that may mean zippidee to you, but Beloit College in Beloit, Wisc., just published its Mindset List of 2015, which might give you a few interesting tidbits to mull over—like the fact that this is the first class of kids who have never known a world without the Internet.
Each year the Wisconsin school cranks out this list of verities about the youngsters entering their hallowed halls for the first time. And as I scan the list with my ancient eye (you can see it for yourself here), this crop seems a little special. For example, this generation of kids would probably think of sales and bargains rather than a river in South America when you bring up the word Amazon. In fact, the word onlineis a staple of daily conversation. If Ferris Bueller were a real guy, he could easily be their old fogey of a dad. TVs have always had a remote for these kids and “don’t touch that dial” has about as much meaning as the thought of a world without video games.
It’s pretty interesting—and perhaps a little frightening—to think about what these kids have always known: Music has always been available online. Public schools have always had advertising. Life has always been like a box of chocolates.
These sorts of lists always make me feel a little older. Not like these hip, happening professors from Beloit discussing the list.
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