Chapter Fifty-One - On the Brink: of an Upcoming Exhausted Generation

Once every semester I invite three students of mine from UAlbany to do a podcast featuring a decidedly younger point of view than mine. This is that chapter and outta the mouths of Zoomers you’l hear about the futility protesting, exhaustion over world events and fear of the future, Tik Tok and even the wonder of torpedo bats. Mirai Abe is an exchange student from Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, to UAlbany where she studies journalism and sociology. She arrived in the US last August in time to learn English, take up a full load of classes, and write for the Albany Student Press as well as for the Japanese Student Association. She is interested in gender and sexuality in East Asia, American and Japanese politics, and social issues. Now a junior, she hopes to work as a local news reporter in the US after graduation. In her rare free time she is learning Korean, reads novels, and watches K-dramas. The biggest culture shock she faced coming to the US, she says, was seeing students wearing pajamas to classes.Sean Ramirez is a sophomore at UAlbany, double-majoring in journalism and political science. His passion for politics began through grassroots involvement, including volunteering in various upstate New York campaigns. He is an active contributor to the university’s radio station, and engages with MAP, the Minorities and Philosophy organization, exploring the intersections of identity, ethics, and public discourse. He’d like to merge his interests in media and political analysis, so is aiming to amplify underrepresented voicesthrough storytelling and policy advocacy. Latoya Wilkinson is a junior at UAlbany studying journalism and English. A Brooklyn native, she has danced, acted, and played the violin since childhood. She says she learned from the arts the importance and the satisfaction of rich storytelling. She loves travel and exploration for the same reason she is drawn to reporting and is looking for a career finding and writing stories that matter.