What is expected of a graduate of 21st century and how does the university play a role in contributing to a successful outcome?

21st century. The roar of machines, globalization, technologys progress, eclecticism, World Wide Web, Skype, i-pod, Apple i-phone and it is possible to go on without any end. In spite of the fact that the century is at the very beginning, it has embraced already very many notions and ideas which can characterize it from all imaginable and sometimes quite opposite points of view. From modern period (the beginning of the 20st century till the Second World War begins) and industrial society, where production, manufacture and machines took the leading place, humanity stepped into postmodernism appeared as a reaction to modernism and postindustrial society, where the main weapon is information. Postmodernism is not so easy to define because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of realms and disciplines of study, including art, literature, music, architecture, painting ,as well as technology. In these latter days knowledge has become the basic humanitys resource. It is possible to sell, to buy, to get, to take, to earn, to borrow and even to steal Information. To cut a long story short, it has grown almost to become a living being. As Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill once said: One, who possesses Information, possesses the whole World. If more exactly, postmodernism is directed to intellectual revolution and informational progress. The most enormous depository of learning, filled with different kinds of Knowledge is the so-called fount of wisdom University. Having got basic knowledge at school, we come to the University, having chosen the main vector of our life. It is possible to say that University serves as the conveyor of personalities. We graduate of 21st century has so many opportunities, so rich range of choice that it is quite difficult to find, what is really necessary for each of us and consequently to channel efforts in the right direction. It makes us wonder, whether 21st centurys education should be considered as a curse or blessing. Despite the complexity of choice nowadays, University is appeared to be a system, helping us to comprehend which the way we should take, what the occupation is the most suitable for us. However, not always well-educated person is able to regulate its life for his own benefit.

It appears that the quantity and even the quality of ones education dont play the leading role at present. There are people, who have 1 education and they are in big business. There are people, who have more than 3 educations, but they are not able to find their place in life, sometimes even to find a job. Also, there are people, which have no education at all, but they persistently still waiting for happiness. The conception of their existence comes to believing in chance. It seems they will never miss the opportunity; they are accustomed to profit by the occasion. Nevertheless, to find a lucky man among them is very hard, they are rather idlers and loafers. On the whole, it is possible to draw a conclusion that having 10 or 1 education, more qualified or less qualified, lying on your favourite sofa or trying to improve yourself, your skills every day, it is of no avail to ponder whether Everest will be subjugated or not; speaking otherwise in what way success will come to you. As a matter of fact, its impossible to predict. Actually, we are not the omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, whom all our deeds and subsequent developments of them are visible. Synthesizing ideas, we can find a quote of an American professional journalist and editor Cathy Drinkwater Better appropriate in this case: Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands. It is a great pity that we cannot choose the shortest and the least thorny path to success, but there is an incontestable fact we are able to achieve things because we can influence and we don't even have to be celebrities or business tycoons. Generally speaking, to respond on the issue may in different ways. What is expected of a graduate of 21st century? To determine upon a course of action is in our own hands. It should be borne in mind, that the choice is always ours. The complication is solely in the correctness of the chosen path. As it wellknown, the 21st century has so wide choice of studies. Therefore, owing to this reason to accomplish what you wish becomes more complicated. How does the university play a role in contributing to a successful outcome? It helps us to find ourselves in this big, overfilled with opportunities World. University lets us understand who we are, determines our interests, and shapes our personalities, preparing them for tackling the problems and obtaining success as well. Nowadays most people realize the importance of learning. 'You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizons. The more things you love, the more things you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about.' said an American actress Ethyl Barrymore.

Learning in the 21st century has become accessible for all comers. I cannot but agree with this statement: Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century. S. J. Perelman (a Jewish-American humorist, author, and screenwriter.) Learning is the only way to the radiant future.