Beyond the Strawberry Label: Why This Generation Is Braver Than We Think

They've been called soft, fragile, easily bruised: the infamous "strawberry generation" that supposedly crumbles under pressure. Yet look closer and you'll find young people packing their bags for six-month stints in unfamiliar cities, working in foreign offices, and choosing uncertainty over comfort. The stereotype doesn't hold up when you watch a twenty-something confidently board a flight to an internship halfway across the world.

Colosseum, Rome, Feb 2024

What's changed? Access, plain and simple. Today's youth aren't just dreaming about global experiences; they're living them. University exchanges that were once for the privileged few are now almost standard. Tech companies offer rotations across continents. Start-ups recruit interns internationally. The infrastructure for this kind of mobility has exploded in ways that simply didn't exist a generation ago.

I'm watching my own three tackle a world vastly different from mine. Shannon's at SMU where going abroad before graduation is practically mandatory. It's built right into the degree programme. Amber's polytechnic makes international internships remarkably accessible, with partnerships that would have seemed impossible in my day. And Nigel? If he's serious about pursuing music professionally, he'll need to look beyond our shores. The local scene, whilst vibrant, is simply too small for anyone wanting to make a sustainable career of it. They're already organising group trips during term breaks with friends, though some of their peers venture out solo. That one keeps me up at night, honestly. My fatherly advice? Find your tribe and travel together.

During my university days, I don't recall anyone studying abroad. Even at work, I'd be lucky to travel once or twice annually. Looking back, I wonder if the chances were there all along. Maybe I just needed to push harder. Today's landscape is entirely different. Some companies now let employees work remotely from other countries for stretches each year. Others offer sabbaticals, giving people genuine breaks to recharge, explore, regain their mental balance. These weren't conversations we were having two decades ago.

So here's what I tell Shannon, Amber, and Nigel: venturing outside your comfort zone isn't optional anymore. The best roles, the most innovative ventures, the richest experiences often lie beyond our shores. But it's more than just career advancement. When you're dropped into unfamiliar environments, you discover resilience you didn't know you had. You uncover capabilities that stay hidden in familiar surroundings. You create connections and perspectives that fundamentally reshape how you see the world. The real transformation isn't just what ends up on your CV. It's who you become through the challenge.