Rapid change in the form of globalization, led by information technologies, is changing how my generation approaches politics and economics. It is also changing governance and business. This is the context in which my generation will be governing.

My generation has grown up with cell phones, electronic money transfers and instant lookup of anything, or anyone. While the older generation sees young adults as constantly on their cell phones and distracted from the world around them, I see a generation of communicators and future diplomats and negotiators. We will need them.

Corporations have become internationalized, and they can pick and choose jurisdictions based on competitive advantage. These can include taxes, labor or other features. Nations have less and less control over corporations, even though these corporations now affect everyone and everything. With increased globalization, we have all become more connected. With these increased connections, we feel the impacts of all events in the world more intensely. An example of this is the 2008 financial crisis where bad industry decisions and failure of the financial system in just a few companies caused a recession across the developed world. It is no longer enough to pass state or federal laws; a new form of governance is needed on a global level.

Ethics, standards and compliance needs to be governed, as corporate failures in this way affect us all, but control of the whole world? That is a tall order with many implications. As a nursing student, I have a different insight into how these changes might systematically become positive developments. In caring for patients it is important that all specialists and roles in a patients’ care communicate and work together in light of a common goal. Every position on that care team has a different perspective, but it is a need to take all of the considerations into perspective which is necessary in order to support the health and healing of a patient. Designing and implementing a world justice system may need a similar perspective.

There are some very big questions that no one can yet answer with regard to controlling the behavior of corporations and real global governance. Perhaps it will occur through existing international instruments, or perhaps there will be fractions which develop as opinions form and crystallize around possibly polarized ideas. This would be a normal part of a process of political negotiation that has never happened before, but needs to occur to ensure that multinational companies do not cause harm in their pursuit of profits by avoiding the laws of nations.

International relations and diplomacy will be the key to ensuring that nations keep their sovereignty while coming to agreements regarding how these processes will be developed, ratified and implemented. These will not be easy times, and it will be important to remain focused on common interests, rather than divided by disagreements. Cultural differences will result in diverse perspectives and priorities. World governance may need to take forms such as consensus. If all perspectives can be integrated and taken in to account, then there will be greater insight and innovation in this area. New political realities and forms of world relationships have the power to shift dynamics. It would amount to seeking, as a common pursuit, for the first time, a world order.

My generation will be tackling the most difficult political issues of all time, with a great potential reward- real world peace and understanding. This is no longer an idea of dreamers, but a practical need for which real processes can be developed and built upon. My generation has been practicing for a world where we connect, communicate and create change by working together. I plan to prepare for this task with a great education and foundation in government and politics. I hope you will agree that I am a good fit for the University of Texas, as my journey can begin there.