A New Dawn

For the better part of the last six months, I have made a conscious decision to avoid driving at night, especially when heading out for dinner or spending time with friends. It simply makes sense—why worry about navigating traffic or staying alert on the road when I can relax, enjoy my evening, and let someone else handle the drive? More often than not, this means taking an Uber back home around 10 or 11 PM.

For many, these late-night Uber rides might be nothing more than a routine journey, a quiet transition from the excitement of the evening to the comfort of home. But for me, they have become something more—an unexpected window into the lives of the people who drive these cars. Every ride is an opportunity, a chance to engage in conversation, and it never fails to be a revelation.

I listen to their stories—their aspirations, their struggles, and the paths they are carving out for themselves. Some speak with remarkable clarity about their goals, laying out step-by-step plans to move forward. Others are still searching for direction, not for lack of ambition but simply because they haven’t yet had the opportunity to see where their efforts might take them. These conversations humble me, reminding me to remain grateful for the privileges I have had and the sacrifices my parents made to provide me with opportunities they perhaps never had.

One thing is clear: the younger generation, particularly those under 30, is filled with resilience and determination. Many of these drivers view their current work as a stepping stone, a means to an end rather than an end in itself. They are working toward something greater—for themselves and their families. And in that, I see a dawn approaching. A new beginning.

My hope is that this drive, this hunger for growth, extends beyond the boundaries of big cities. That the spirit of ambition and reinvention ignites in the hinterlands as well, where opportunities may be fewer but the potential is just as immense. If this way of thinking spreads, if it catches like wildfire across communities and generations, then what a grand dawn it would be—one not just of personal success, but of collective progress and transformation

C