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SMT Perspectives & Prospects: What I Hope the Next Generation Will Carry Forward

As parents and grandparents, we often wonder what we can give the next generation that will matter long after the gifts have been opened and the celebrations have passed. When a child leaves for college, this occasion naturally invites reflection. The older I become, the more I realize that the most meaningful things we can pass on are not possessions, accomplishments, or even answers. I want to offer encouragement, perhaps a few words of wisdom, and some lessons that life has taught me. These are perspectives, ways of thinking, choices to consider, and principles to carry through an ever-changing world.

Recently, I wrote a personal note to my very first college-bound grandson with a few observations gathered not from textbooks but from decades of living, working, leading, succeeding, making mistakes, and watching and coping with the world as it changes. I intentionally tried to avoid the familiar clichés of advice and instead focus on things I have come to believe are genuinely useful and real.

As I reread that note, I thought it might resonate beyond our family, as many of us are experiencing similar situations as our children and grandchildren enter college, begin careers, or find their way in this complex world. The technologies, careers, and circumstances of life certainly will change, especially with AI, but some principles remain remarkably durable.

So, I share these thoughts as one generation speaking to another. Perhaps it will prompt reflection, some discussion around the dinner table, or simply a smile of recognition. After all, one of the privileges of getting older is having accumulated enough experience to know that we cannot choose the path for those who follow us. We can, however, offer a few signposts along the way.

Here is my note to my first college-bound grandson, who seems to have grown to 6-foot-3 almost overnight.

A Note to My College-Bound Grandson

Bobby,

As you prepare for this exciting new chapter of life, in addition to a college send-off/dorm-move-in gift, I would like to leave you with a few thoughts and observations gathered from life and experience that may serve you well in the years ahead. These are not clichés, but real things, and high-value lessons that have proven true over time.

1. Stay away from unhealthy habits.

Avoid smoking, drinking, drugs, and other destructive behaviors. Your health, energy, and clarity of mind are among your greatest assets. Protect them.

2. Choose your company wisely.

Surround yourself with ambitious, forward-thinking, positive people. The friends and classmates with whom you spend your time will influence your thinking, aspirations, habits, and ultimately your future.

3. Remain disciplined in your core mission to learn.

College is an opportunity to develop your mind. Be diligent in your studies (Family offers cash award for grade A), intellectually curious, willing to take on leadership roles, and committed to excellence. The knowledge, skills, and habits you build now will serve you for a lifetime.

4. Use money wisely.

Save and invest, and change your consumption habits from buying things to experiencing things.

That mindset will help you take advantage of the uniqueness of this period in one’s life. Learn the value of financial discipline early. Save consistently, spend thoughtfully, and invest as much as practical. Early gratification is not a virtue. It’s like premature harvesting; you don’t get good crops. Time is one of the greatest advantages a young person has when building financial security and wherewithal. Money makes money!

5. Nurture your relationships, make time to communicate, and build lifelong mentors.

• Be mindful of your personal and professional relationships. Build meaningful connections and seek mentors who can guide, challenge, inspire you, and offer honest feedback.
• Leave an impression by being fully engaged in whatever you do, whether it’s a big task or a small chore. People are surprisingly more observant and perceptive than we realize, albeit tacitly. 
• Never underestimate the value of helping someone in need; kindness has a remarkable way of enriching both the giver and the recipient.
• Develop a reputation for being dependable and reasonably accommodating, not merely focused on your own likes. 
• Reply to messages, emails, and communications promptly and consistently. People remember those who are responsive, consistent, and reliable.
• Be a gentleman!

You are an intelligent, capable, and handsome young man with tremendous opportunities ahead of you. Talent alone, however, is never enough. Hard work is absolutely indispensable. Saying the outcome/success is directly proportional to the hours you work on it is not an exaggeration, but like a mathematical equation:

S = C x H 
where 
S= success or positive outcome
H‎ = number of hours spent
C‎ = coefficient, which can be multiple parameters, e.g., E (Effort) + E (External factors)  

We are immensely proud of you and look forward to watching you grow, contribute, and thrive in the years ahead. Have a great start in college, Bobby!

With love, NaiNai

Your Preparation for Life
Prepare for college, but even more importantly, prepare for life. A college education can provide knowledge, skills, credentials, and opportunities; however, character, judgment, discipline, integrity, and compassion ultimately determine how far those opportunities will carry a person. The years ahead will undoubtedly bring extraordinary technological advances, new professions, and challenges we may not foresee. Yet the fundamentals of a meaningful and successful life are unlikely to change: a sound mind and body, a commitment to learning, wise choices, financial prudence, strong relationships, respect for others, a willingness to work hard, and a desire to contribute beyond oneself.

We cannot, nor should we, walk the journey for the next generation. Their future will be theirs to shape. We can share the lessons learned through our own triumphs and setbacks, offer guidance without imposing it, and provide encouragement.

If, along the way, a few of our experiences help them avoid unnecessary detours, seize worthy opportunities, or navigate life’s inevitable crossroads with greater confidence and wisdom, then we have contributed something of lasting value.

Ultimately, every generation inherits a world it did not create and leaves behind a world it has helped shape. My hope is that we pass forward not only knowledge and resources, but also values, perspective, resilience, and a sense of responsibility toward others. If we do that well, then our legacy will not be measured by what we leave behind, but by what those who follow us carry forward.

Upcoming Appearances

Dr. Jennie Hwang will present a lecture on "Artificial Intelligence & AI-Powered Future Manufacturing” on Oct. 27, and on “Mastering Intermetallics for Reliable Electronics” on Oct. 26, at SMTA International 2026 in Chicago.

This column originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of SMT007 Magazine.