By Libby Gafny, Grade 10
“My vision of the future starts in the past; it starts with understanding the oldest part of ourselves, the part that still drives most of what we do.
We, as humans, are irrevocably wired to belong. From tribalism in ancient times to fandoms today, the human need for affiliation keeps evolving yet never disappears. It explains why we polarize, why we pick sides, and why identity can feel like survival. The future, I imagine, is one where we stop blindly participating in our need to belong and move to consciously understand the way and how it drives our lives.
If we understood our need for belonging the way we understand economic systems or market patterns, we would see the mechanics behind so much of human behaviour. The instinct to defend, divide, or segregate is not always about belief but about staying inside a group. By shifting our perspective this way, we can see behaviour not as irrational, but as deep expressions of individual perspectives shaped by our need for connection.
We talk about preparing for a future with AI and technological advancements, but the fundamental foundations for human development and a better future are internal; that is why the future, I imagine, is one where education prioritizes empathy, intellectual humility, and critical thinking. These skills matter immensely because they help us ask better questions about others and ourselves, such as whether we are advocating for an idea because of its merit or out of fear that questioning it might jeopardize our connection to the group that constructed it.
The future I envision and hope for isn’t about eradicating our need to belong but understanding it, knowing that our instincts shape how we navigate the world and how we connect with others. When we learn to decentre ourselves, question, and reflect, we create systems and relationships that aren’t ruled by fear or blind allegiance, but by empathy and a genuine understanding. This is not about rejecting who we are or our origins, but about learning to belong without letting it define us. I hope and imagine a brighter future when we stop using our longing for connection to divide and instead convert it into a force of unity.”
