The generation born between 1984 and 2004 (this is just a rough estimate, considering most generations are categorized in 20-year increments) are disparagingly known as Millennials. Generation Y, also known as Generation Me, is possibly the most disliked generation in our most recent history. The word “entitled” is probably the first word that comes to mind when a discussion of Millennials comes up in conversation, and rightfully so. According to an article by Mackenzie Dawson, “A recent survey found that 71 percent of American adults consider millennials ‘selfish,’ and 65 percent find them ‘entitled.'” (“STFU Millennials”) This just proves the point being made here: my generation (I say that just as a technicality, because I don’t like being included in this nonsense) is the generation with the most entitlement and at the same time the one with the lowest work ethic to equal the right.
While some would argue that the entitlement exhibited by this generation is a positive thing (demanding nothing less than the best empowered youth, et cetera, et cetera), I can’t say I agree in the slightest. I look at people my age, enamored with their social media and smartphones, soaked in celebrity gossip and the latest fashion trends, and I see a bunch of little kids with no morals or work ethic who want everything to be done for them. give without effort given in return. We are the generation raised by parents who feared for our broken spirit and self-esteem, and instead of giving us the strength to succeed no matter the challenge, they overwhelmed us with the weight that comes with a lack of what it means to earn something. . We are the generation raised to believe that we are all special, that we are all winners and that the world is our beautiful toy. But reality is harsh, and the truth is uglier than we could have imagined: we are specks on the face of a planet full of people ready to eat us alive, and Mommy is the only person who really WANTED to kiss our chest. boom.
Generation Me is full of selfish, self-absorbed, entitled young people who want the expensive party lifestyle without having to work hard to earn it. This is where we get creative: we’ve created lazy “jobs” for ourselves that bring in the big dollar signs with very little effort. The perfect example of this is the YouTube fame we’ve created for ourselves: people my age make more money than teachers who make meaningless videos with little to no educational value, while the rest of us work 40+ hours a week just to pay our bills. We are a group of young people obsessed with ourselves and with the intention of having everything we want for nothing. Did you expect more from us? After all, we are not our parents. No, we are much more “enlightened” than that.
Today’s young adults have grown up in an environment of instant gratification, lots of praise with little or no criticism, and parents who make us boss instead of the other way around. Having been raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs and got her degree to make our lives easier, I see how much damage she unknowingly did by making my life so easy. I never knew the value of money, only that mom always had it and if she asked nicely and pouted a little, my whims would be fulfilled. I never knew the value and meaning of hard work and earning everything you had in life because I was told that my only “responsibility” was to go to school. However, my mother woke up and changed my reality for the better (although I didn’t see it that way at first): she forced me to get a job and I started paying for my own toiletries and other wants. This is the moment when I realize what fools I share a generation with. I look around me and I see a group of young people who are not only entitled and selfish, but completely blind and justify every detail.
You and I are not the only ones who see this selfish, tech-obsessed generation as a spell problem. Employers begin to see us as divas in the world of work, and without work there is no money. But we’ve been taught that without money, wellness will be your safety net. Many Millennials expect and often demand the jobs they really want without any experience or effort behind that search. Most Millennials also have little to no sense of gratitude, and this is something I find so irrelevant to our growth as spiritual human beings. According to Mackenzie Dawson’s article, “Whether they’re hoping to get a job, some advice, or help with a school project, many millennials seem to have missed the memo on how to network without irritating people.” who are in a position to help. After all, it’s only networking if you’re successful at it.” (“STFU Millennials”) This statement supports my earlier observation regarding Millennials and employers: We have a big problem with being appreciative and realizing the need to earn our place in society, and employers see this. Our parents and teachers see it, our superiors and mentors see it, and even most of us in this generation are beginning to see all the signs adding up.
I’m still young and I’m still learning every day how to break the bad habits I picked up in my youth. I am still learning how to be truly grateful and what it means to work hard to earn everything my son and I have. I am learning to rely less on technology and more on intuition and self-reliance. I’m learning to step back and really look at this generation and see it for what it is: a bunch of cocky, self-entitled wannabe hippies with little to no sense of work ethics and morals who have such lines. blurry that they might not even be there anymore. Some call us the information generation or the self-discovery generation. While I find much of this manifesting as true in my own life as I get older, I look at young people between the ages of 12 and 18 and want to wake them all up. These kids want everything handed to them on a silver platter and often go as far as to demand it without caring about what it takes to make it happen. We want everything our hearts desire without having to lift a finger to get it, and the world does not get along with those who do nothing. Darwin called this “survival of the fittest,” and you can’t get in shape without first committing to an exercise routine. Millennials define themselves as Generation Me, and I can’t think of a better name for the most empowered generation our country has yet to see. However, the next generation has yet to be defined or named, and I have a feeling they may turn out worse than us. Good luck Generation TBD – we didn’t do much to build a bright future for all of you, we were too busy looking at our social media on our smartphones!
CITY OF WORKS
Dawson, Mackenzie “STFU Millennials: 5 Easy Ways Not to Act Entitled” New York Post. website. April 27, 2015.