Gen C (i.e. For connected).
Millennials...I hate the name, assumed characteristics and everything that comes with being a part of this generation. Their descriptions don't fit me in a cookie-cutter sort of way like those who came before me. Either I'm "late" and should've been a part of an earlier generation OR they have it all wrong.
Jeremiah 29:11(AMP) #verseOfReflection
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.
"Looks like he's gonna be smarter than us..."Those were some of the few and final words my grandfather spoke about me the last time I saw him "alive and well" on Veterans Day 2009 before he passed onto the other side. At the time I had a book or two for some of my classes with me in the hospital room, trying to review what I could while the male nurse was in conversation with him. Not sure how long this guy had been a nurse, but it seems that he might have been fairly new to some extent. (I say that because he was a much older gentleman, perhaps in his 50s+; possible career change? I've seen it happen.) The nurse had asked me what I was studying (information technology) and sort of implied that I was a "smart guy". After this was when my granddaddy said those words. I'm sure I kind of smiled back, but now that I think about it: "Way to salute me granddaddy!" Seeing that he was 91 at the time of his passing and had lived a good & full life, I'd have to say that I could trust that his words were true. After all we're now in the Internet age and knowledge abounds.
Millennials...why that name?
Generation Y kind of fits, until we get to Z. What will the next generation be called? Double-A (i.e. AA)? Interestingly enough, there seems to not be much agreement on the precise dates for this generation. Some say the late 1970s to early 2000s, others speak of those who were born in the 80s-00s. The one that really gets me is the 2 decade time span from 1982-2002. I have nothing in common with people born after 1998. If I'm going to be honest, since my mini-me was born in '94, anyone (born) after that hardly even registers on my radar of existence. I mean, I see you, but I don't really see you. If you know what I mean.
I think "on average" my beef is mostly with the negative attributes given to this generation. In fact a majority of us who are included in the number lived a significant portion of their lives prior to the year 2000, so how in the hell is it that we are defined by that?! "It just doesn't make sense to me"; cliche phrase from my teaching assistant experience in undergrad. When I was a TA, I had to lead lab sessions for students learning the Microsoft Office Suite. At times during my interactions with them (mostly freshmen and sophomores, while I was a first/second year senior) I mostly thought over and over again, "There is noooooo way these people are connected to me. Look at how they act; so deserving and wanting to be coddled and all this other BS." Needless to say I learned a lot about myself and teaching during that time but it put a very nasty taste in my mouth for this generation.
Some of the other characteristics I can think of off the top of my head include this sort of narcissism of having to either get our way or be given something without working for it. We're also known as "Generation Me", although I am positive that it's mostly the young'ns in this gene pool which this applies too. As I grow older and talk to more Millennials my own age I find that this simply isn't true. Even when I was in high school it was noticeable that each year there was less "maturity" with the incoming class than the year before. Sadly to say, the class after us seemed to be our "last hope". Much of this is owed to the parents that raised us. If your parents were baby boomers, you're probably blessed with a "decent" upbringing. If your parents were a part of Generation X...well I can't speak to it, but "on average" it seems that it may not be so pretty.
One thing that I do know is that we are truly awesome. How/why can I say this? To be the first generation to truly have all of this technology and not only that but maximize its potential, is an amazing feat. Unfortunately, in certain areas we may lack the skills and forethought needed to undertake a feat, it mostly comes down to a matter of being taught what to do/not do given a certain situation. I see this often with my younger brother. He simply doesn't know. I can't assume that he does or why would he ask? It is incumbent upon me to not only teach him what I know but to show him how to find out what he doesn't know. Among some of us there is definitely that itch to not want to work hard. It seems we continue to lower our standards, and suggest that everyone should be recognized simply for participating, disregarding the notion of clear winners and losers. Perhaps that last statement is more geared for those who are being reared as we speak.
Complete beasts we are when it comes to anything technical as I mentioned earlier. Surely the baby boomers and gen-xers can hardly prevent us from taking any jobs which require this sort of innate skill. But with "great power" comes an even greater responsibility. Sometimes our fellow brethren aren't as cognizant of what they do online and how that can/will affect them in the future at some point. Maybe they really do believe that "You Only Live Once" and the "good die young".
 |
| The one thing I might appreciate more than anything is the sheer number of self-professed nerds there are. |
The attribute that I feel is an incredible one to embrace, which seems to be a part of a generational cycle and we are only taking what's being given to us, is this idea of community and embracing everyone. We are the most diverse, inclusive, and supportive generation there has been in some time. We prefer what a brand represents than what the name is. Granted we have our flaws; mean girls, peer pressure, and the like still continue to this very day (which they will never cease). Who won the last two Presidential elections? Other than the current POTUS, there was a push to get out and get those younger voters, all of who are a part of this generation. I'm not sure if Gen-X will kind of get "skipped over", but we are poised to make our move and make it quickly and with a significant amount of impact. There truly isn't anything that can stop us other than God himself. Thinking back on the story of the "Tower of Babel", that in and of itself has its' advantages and disadvantages.
Let's not even talk about how we've been given a crappy opportunity with the economy and the system having failed us that said the "American Dream" was still real. Or any dream that was relished by past generations for that matter. Student loan debt is high. Unemployment won't go down. It seems that a Bachelor's is worth as much as a high school diploma once was. It soon may become the de facto standard necessity for employment just to be able to show a level of introductory competence and critical thinking skill (then again as long as you pass with a 2.0 you're good).
SN: Despite "growing up with" technology, I've always been a slow adopter. I didn't use the internet in a full-fledged capacity til middle school. Always having access/connections simply wasn't my life.
SN2: I wonder how the age gap between parents and children affect the child's rearing. It seems that those born closer in age to their parents may have a "friendlier" advantage than those born later.
What do you think about the millennial generation or other generations for that matter?
Share in the comments section below.
Sumthn2Ponder (s2p):
- How am I influenced by the millennial generation?
- What will I do to embrace and/or set myself apart from the generation I belong to?
- "Set myself apart" here is to be unique and transcend/rise above generational traits
Links for Consideration(L4C):
In case you need it
