A few weeks ago I attended a retreat hosted by the Posse Leadership Scholarship Foundation centered on the Millennial Generation. Loosely defined, the millennials are those born in the 1980s and 1990s. We, for I am myself a millennial, are distinguished from earlier generations because we make up the most diverse group. There are over 75 million millennials in the U.S, at least 20% of us have one undocumented parent, the internet existed for us as we were growing up (which is why we are considered to be technologically savvy), and our economic position is significantly worse than what our parents’ was.
The social, cultural, and economic reality we have grown up with identifies a big portion of who we are. Still, I noticed during the retreat of 50+ students that having one definition of who the millennials are is unfair because we are a multidimensional and complex group of people. Nonetheless, there are some generalizations made about our group. It is said that the millennials are in many ways a product of society. We multi-task because we live in a fast paced environment, we are innovative and self-inventive because we have to compete in a tough job market where our creativity can set us apart, we are interactive and social because we have learned the value of networking, and we are significantly closer to our family members than prior generations. We are seen as an impulsive bunch who are often unsatisfied with what meets the eye and are always in search for more—for better. Also, we are called “the future” but many of the millennials do not see a bright future for themselves. For many millennials the “American dream” is non-existent or farfetched.It is great that we have a personality of many shades that is unlike any other generation; however, our economic situation is a huge setback for many millennials. During the retreat there was a debate among student attendees about “planning for the future”. Most upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) were comfortable with the idea of living with their parents after college. In fact, most expected to live with them while first-year students and sophomores were more likely to reject the idea of living with family straight out of school. As a senior in college I am beginning to see the reality of my situation and my generation’s situation. I am fortunate enough to have networks, interviews, and a supportive family but lamentably not everyone has the same resources.
I encourage you to research more about your generation, especially if you are a millennial. It is important because by doing so you will become informed about the politics of your generation. You will get up to speed about social conditions, education, and the economy. As you become well informed you will hopefully begin to consider what you can do to develop a bright future for yourself. The reality for the millennial generation is that to accomplish your goal of getting your dream job, getting into your dream program, dream university, or graduate school is a process that can take years, so it’s always best to start early. As a high school or college student you will need to develop work and academic experience, build your resume, and demonstrate your creativity and hard work to set you apart.
I want to learn more about the Millennials. How do you define yourself and your generation? What are the unjust stereotypes casted on your generation? What historical and personal events have impacted your disposition on life? What are your sleepless worries? Do you think a high school and college diploma will be important to obtain?
