Edition 2024
Beyond the Established

As human beings, we tend to choose leaders or role models to follow. We have done this since the beginning of time, and we continue to do so today in the form of government officials, religious figures, economic leaders, and more recently, on social media. It is pertinent, then, to question why we exhibit this type of behavior and what we seek in these individuals.

We cannot deny that the decisions made by these leaders, whatever their sphere, directly or indirectly affect our lives. Many of these decisions are made publicly and are announced for all to see. However, it is the decisions that go unnoticed by the majority that we should pause to consider. We must ask ourselves if, despite their significant influence over us, we truly know who the most influential people in our lives are. Or is it the fact that we don't really know them that makes them so powerful? How can we choose, follow, or even judge leaders whose existence we are unaware of?

Leaders are not only represented by individuals but also by entities, both public and private. We are often unaware of the influence of these entities and the impact of their decisions. The economic, technological, and political development directed by these entities changes the rules of the world we live in. Despite this, in most cases, we are unaware of who is responsible for each of these powers.

With the growth of social media, a new way of receiving information emerges, therefore creating a new form of influence. Each of us, with our online profiles, has the ability to simply press the 'follow' button to give our vote to someone. With this simple action, we are granting them direct access to our daily lives. Could we then say that social networks provide us with the freedom to choose who we allow to influence us?

As a consequence of these new platforms, a new type of figures emerge. Figures that gain so much popularity end up forming communities that follow and defend them, often unconditionally. These are cases where we can see how the power of social media manages to transcend screens and have an effect on the tangible world. Thinking of extreme examples, could we imagine a person becoming so popular on social media up to the point of becoming president of a country? To what extent does this result in a more democratic way of attaining power? In such a case, we would be facing a new version of a completely decentralized democracy. Conversely, we could be facing a new tool of mass manipulation, with effects that can escalate to the highest levels of power.

We are part of a reality where it is almost impossible to escape external influences. In an increasingly globalized world, the information that reaches us increases in quantity and complexity, causing us to stop questioning its origins. However, it is up to us to seek transparency and ask ourselves who are those behind the influence.

As individuals, we are immersed in several cultural aspects that shape us from the moment we are born: geographical location, nationality, family, and socioeconomic status, among others. As we navigate these social contexts, we absorb and internalize values, beliefs, and perspectives, contributing to the construction of a unique identity. However, it is crucial to recognize that our origin is not the only determinant of who we are, as we also have the possibility of choosing our decisions to build our future.

We face the duality of exercising our individuality or embracing the influence to which we are subjected. This does not necessarily imply a denial of our cultural context but an opportunity to explore and consider how our complex identity works. To what extent are our personal choices influenced by factors we haven't chosen? Aren't we responsible for evaluating the roots of our behavior?

Let's analyze a situation that arises commonly during armed conflicts. The usual scenario is that the people involved in such conflicts firmly align themselves with their homeland, their history, and their culture. Even though it is generally expected to support your country, is it possible to go beyond cultural barriers in a political conflict with the aim of understanding the opposing side? To what extent can individual ideas transcend collective ideals?

Not only are we currently influenced by cultural elements but also by online platforms that are affecting our behavior. Thus, the nature of individuality in a globalized and interconnected world becomes even more complex as we navigate these digital environments. This is evident in the case of social media, where we are constantly exposed to hundreds and hundreds of opinions per minute, many of which tend to reinforce what we believe to be true, pulling us closer to mass mentality.

In view of the risks of losing our autonomy, how often do we pause and ponder the power we have as individuals, or even consider the influence we can exercise on others? Just as external actions impact us, we must acknowledge that our actions similarly affect our environment. We often overlook the importance of our uniqueness and the traits that differentiate us even though these are the most critical strengths we possess to transform our reality.

We live in a complex context where collective thought significantly influences our personal decisions. It's a context where the constant negotiation between external forces and personal aspirations challenges our individuality. Today more than ever, we must ask ourselves: are we truly limited by the circumstances that surround us, or do we choose to embrace our individuality?

Over the past few years, we as a global society have been exposed to constant change in our lives. Whether these changes are for better or for worse, many of us have no power to influence them in any way, subjecting ourselves to their consequences. Consider these examples: the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to shift our perspective in many ways and led us to cultural reforms that we are still adapting to today. The emergence of more advanced AI technology has made bigger corporations question the value of human labor, considering the new technology as a more cost-effective option. Despite all of these massive paradigm shifts occurring around us, most of us lack something crucial: the tools to produce change ourselves.

The scenery of change aims to place the participant in the role of the protagonist of your own change. We encourage you to go beyond, reflecting on your position in your community and acting upon that to produce real change. The ability to simplify complicated and sensitive issues, being a critical problem solver, becoming a leader in situations of urgency; these are all characteristics of someone willing to produce real impact within their communities. Therefore, the question arises: what tools and traits do we need to become a leader for others and ourselves? In what situations will we choose to go beyond what we know and get out of our comfort zone?

On the one hand, being aware of the external power that impacts your daily life will give you the tools to generate positive influence. Instead of having an idea and hypothesizing how you could possibly carry it out, you will learn the skills to actually bring that idea to life and produce something to help others. Being able to put yourself in the position of a leader is a key component in producing real change.

On the other hand, the ability to recognize how the collective thinking we are subject to impacts us will allow for personal growth. Not only does that imply change in oneself, but it will also generate an ease when interacting with others. Understanding other people’s perspectives will be easier, facilitating interactions and group work. Being able to recognize the lack of initiative due to collective pressure will also grant you the productivity needed to build change.

This subtopic is where you contemplate everything you’ve opened your mind to in terms of influence and individuality and undertake the challenge of change. How do we fully embrace the call to action and begin building the change we want to see? The tools will be supplied not only by us but also by you, and it will be your responsibility to truly mark a difference.