Let's Clear a Few Things Up Regarding Millennials...
Millennials get a whole lot of grief about absolutely nothing. Our mere existence seems to bother people, even other millennials! People are upset because we're selfish or feel entitled or don't work hard enough or always want to find the easy way out or don't take life as seriously as we should. Yada yada yada. I recently stumbled across the blog of a married woman in her late twenties/early thirties (she's a millennial, too). She penned an entire essay complaining about the "problem" with millennials and how we need to grow up and stop prolonging adolescence. She even took the time to attack the concept of "adulting." After reading (mocking) her article, I decided to search for more like it. Wouldn't you know, there are dozens of similar articles that consistently attack millennials and identify "problem" after "problem" without actually posing real solutions? What's more interesting is that not a single critic I stumbled upon took the time to ATTEMPT to identify the source of the alleged problems.
So, because I'm exceedingly helpful and not at all condescending, I've decided to clarify a few things about my generation. This is specifically for all you real adults out there who are secretly disappointed in your offspring, and ESPECIALLY for you millennials who are pretending, even more so than everyone else, to have a grasp on life (no one is fooled).
1. We aren't lazy and entitled.
We are not spoon-fed brats. We work our butts off. We spend years in school, earning degree after degree, only to find out later that despite our extensive education, we don't have the "experience" needed for this job or that job. After a fair amount of disappointment, we resort to creating our own hustle (see number 4). Some of use spend the majority of our twenties living at home with our parents or on the couches of friends, not because we're moochers, but because we have nothing else and our parents and friends love us enough to support our hustle until the rest of the world decides to accept the talents we offer. We are not lazy, we're resourceful. We are not entitled, we're optimistic risk takers with an abundance of confidence and ambition.
2. We aren't the first generation to be ridiculed for going against "tradition."
Every generation has been criticized by previous generations for one thing or another. Baby Boomers spent more and saved less than Veterans; unlike the Baby Boomers, Generation X was less optimistic, more informal, and filled with latchkey kids; and Generation Y is rooted in realism, confidence, and extreme fun. Technological advancements have vastly affected communication and the way our society functions. Our fundamental values have shifted to suit the changing demands of everyday life. "Different" is often initially perceived as "wrong," but in the end, people adapt and get on with their lives.
3. We're not man-cubs. Someone raised us.
We are not savages either. Whoever we've become, the previous generation helped mold us. Our beliefs, values, and seemingly undesirable quirks are partly the result of our upbringing. Until a certain point in all of our lives, someone was responsible for us. Before you criticize our choices and ways of doing things, examine the role you played in our development.
4. We're innovative.
I'll just leave this here... http://www.fastcompany.com/3046652/innovation-agents/these-millennial-innovators-are-riding-the-rails-across-America
Admit it, we contribute a lot to society. We simply have a slightly different approach.
5. We aren't the worst. The worst is coming.
As much as you hate us, there's a far worse generation coming after us. Trust me, I teach them. Get ready. You've been warned.
So, because I'm exceedingly helpful and not at all condescending, I've decided to clarify a few things about my generation. This is specifically for all you real adults out there who are secretly disappointed in your offspring, and ESPECIALLY for you millennials who are pretending, even more so than everyone else, to have a grasp on life (no one is fooled).
1. We aren't lazy and entitled.
We are not spoon-fed brats. We work our butts off. We spend years in school, earning degree after degree, only to find out later that despite our extensive education, we don't have the "experience" needed for this job or that job. After a fair amount of disappointment, we resort to creating our own hustle (see number 4). Some of use spend the majority of our twenties living at home with our parents or on the couches of friends, not because we're moochers, but because we have nothing else and our parents and friends love us enough to support our hustle until the rest of the world decides to accept the talents we offer. We are not lazy, we're resourceful. We are not entitled, we're optimistic risk takers with an abundance of confidence and ambition.
2. We aren't the first generation to be ridiculed for going against "tradition."
Every generation has been criticized by previous generations for one thing or another. Baby Boomers spent more and saved less than Veterans; unlike the Baby Boomers, Generation X was less optimistic, more informal, and filled with latchkey kids; and Generation Y is rooted in realism, confidence, and extreme fun. Technological advancements have vastly affected communication and the way our society functions. Our fundamental values have shifted to suit the changing demands of everyday life. "Different" is often initially perceived as "wrong," but in the end, people adapt and get on with their lives.
3. We're not man-cubs. Someone raised us.
We are not savages either. Whoever we've become, the previous generation helped mold us. Our beliefs, values, and seemingly undesirable quirks are partly the result of our upbringing. Until a certain point in all of our lives, someone was responsible for us. Before you criticize our choices and ways of doing things, examine the role you played in our development.
4. We're innovative.
I'll just leave this here... http://www.fastcompany.com/3046652/innovation-agents/these-millennial-innovators-are-riding-the-rails-across-America
Admit it, we contribute a lot to society. We simply have a slightly different approach.
5. We aren't the worst. The worst is coming.
As much as you hate us, there's a far worse generation coming after us. Trust me, I teach them. Get ready. You've been warned.
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