Aitana Gimenez Blog #2

 Tana's POV

Group 1 Economics of education 

Education and the economy are deeply interconnected: investments in schooling build a skilled workforce that drives productivity and growth. A thriving economy, in turn, generates the resources necessary to enhance school quality and expand access. Understanding this cycle reveals why supporting education is essential for long-term economic success.

Some examples of useful and beneficial programs are:

The Florida Prepaid College Program is a state-sponsored initiative that allows families to prepay for future college tuition and certain fees at today's rates. It’s designed to make higher education more affordable and predictable by locking in tuition costs.

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is a state-funded initiative designed to reward Florida high school graduates for their academic achievements and community involvement. It offers several scholarship levels to assist with tuition and fees at eligible Florida postsecondary institutions.

Education ties into economics. As the curriculum expands, there will be a result of economic expansion. For instance, the higher the diploma, the greater the job. Learning skills such as critical thinking in class can be used in the real world.

Group 2  Mental Health And Social Life

In America, digital socializing is normalized, plans are more flexible, there's an increase in emotional self-awareness, and loneliness despite connections, quality over quantity, on the other hand, for the rest of the world, Return to community-based fun, mental health is more visible, tech as a tool, not the center, social media pressure, loss of traditional gathering spots and tension between tradition and personal space. these are examples of How have global perspectives changed in the last 5 years.

In March of 2020, Covid-19 effected our idea of "fun" social life on a global scale. 5 years ago, it was more likely for adults, elderly, children, and all ages to socialize together whether it be at a park, a club, a museum, or any place where you could communicate with likeminded people. However, there have been various changes: "Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of obesity was 11% and 15% among men and women, respectively. However, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it increased to 25.3% and 42.4% in men and women, respectively." - National Library of Medicine.

MDC’s Mental Health Support: History Then & Now

Before COVID-19

•  Counseling was available, but mostly in person
•  A few support workshops were offered with limited access and fewer mental health resources overall  

https://www.mdc.edu/student-wellness/counseling/default.aspx

After COVID-19

•   24/7 virtual counseling 
•      Up to 10 free counseling sessions per student
•      More programs to help with stress, anxiety, and loneliness
•      Peer support and emotional wellness coaching
•      Online tools and resources for mental well-being

Group 3 

What does it mean to inherit something in a world that’s constantly changing?
How do we honor the legacy we come from… while building a new tradition for ourselves?

Part I – The Legacy We Inherit

In so many families, especially in fields like medicine, law, diplomacy, and international trade, legacy runs deep.

You're not just choosing a job, you're stepping into a story.

Maybe your mom is a doctor. Your uncle runs a business. Your grandparents were diplomats during a world-changing era. You grow up surrounded by stories of sacrifice and success.

That’s powerful. That’s beautiful.
But sometimes, it can also feel… heavy.

Let’s be honest:
What happens when your path doesn't look like theirs?

What if your idea of impact, of success... is different?

Part II – The Reimagining

Here’s the good news:
Legacy doesn’t have to mean repetition.
It can mean evolution.

It’s like a tree. The roots stay, but the branches grow in all directions.

Let’s keep the example going: a family dedicated to medicine.
They’ve saved lives, built clinics, and taught generations of students.

But maybe you’re more drawn to public health, to mental wellness, to health-tech innovation.
You’re not rejecting the legacy—you’re reframing it.

Same with trade.
Maybe your grandparents shipped goods across the globe.
Now you care about ethical consumerism, sustainability, and blockchain transparency.

We’re not walking away. We’re stepping forward.

This is legacy reimagined: not a script, but a canvas.

Part III – Family Conversations

Now this part is important:
Reimagining tradition requires conversation. Across generations.

Not just “Will you take over the company?”
But “What values do we share?”

Conversations that I have with my mom kinda go like:

“What dreams did you have at my age?”
“Where do you see the world going?”

Because here’s the thing:
Most legacies aren’t really about jobs.
They’re about values.
Service. Perseverance. Curiosity. Vision.

When we talk openly—without pressure, without assumptions—we unlock the real inheritance: not just what our families built, but why they built it.

Part IV – The Courage to Forge Your Own Path

Sometimes, though, the most honest path is a new one entirely.

You might be the first artist in a family of scientists.

The first activist in a family of traders.

The first entrepreneur in a family of academics.

That’s not betrayal. That’s bravery.

Even when the field changes, the spirit of the legacy can live on:
the discipline, the innovation, the desire to leave the world better than you found it.

That’s still legacy.

It just changed labels, that’s it.

Part V – What We Leave Behind

So let me ask you this,

• What kind of legacy do you want to carry?

• What kind of ancestor do you want to be?

Because someday, whether we like it or not, we’ll be the story someone else tells.

The poet Rainer Maria Rilke once said:
“The future enters into us, long before it happens."

That’s what legacy is.
It’s not the past holding you back.

It’s the future whispering, “Build something new. And make it matter.”

Thank you.