As an almost twenty year old college student that is an avid social media user, I am frequently told by my very conservative Red Foreman-esq father that my generation is the main reason that "our country is in the toilet".
Yes, dad. God forbid we stay connected to our friends, learn new technologies and care about our planet. According to my father, there are plenty of reasons I should be ashamed of my generation, so here's five reasons why I am proud of us for being damn millennials.
1. Millennials are capable of massive technological evolution
Think about it. We started with the Nokia mobile, which soon became the Motorola Razr, which then evolved into the Sidekick and eventually the blackberry, the precursor to the Android and iPhones we all know and love today. We mastered each of these complicated technologies and now have the ability to master all technologies to come. We will not be the substitutes that can't figure out how to make the video full screen.
2. We Care
Probably one of the most infuriating things to the middle aged, conservative political know it all is that millennials just "want everything for free". However, we know that this is not the case. We happen to care about our planet, our education and our future. Free or discounted tuition could give everyone an opportunity to receive higher education. Better regulations on littering and landfills could greatly improve the health of our planet. We do not want the world to be handed to us on a silver platter, we want to take the world into or own hands and fix it.
3. We have unique and incredible stories that are constantly being shared.
With Humans of New York, People of America and Facebook in general, we are constantly learning about stories and situations that we can not only share with others, but can also personally contribute to. We can set up an online fundraiser for a complete stranger and within hours give them enough money to help them through their current dilemma.
4. Millennials have a world of information at their fingertips.
From television trivia to the gestation period of marsupials, we can instantly get any information we could've ever wanted. We have the ability to answer any question, play any game, solve any problem and get advice from any expert at any time.
5. Millennials are all inclusive
We are all about equality. No matter your race, class, weight, shape or age your rights will be fought for by everyone. We all had those awkward middle school years of brutal humiliation and seclusion, and know how horrible it can feel to be left in the cold. We fight tooth and nail for the rights of those around us, and relentlessly speak on the need for equality. From body equality to racial equality, we a stick together.
So, no matter how many times your parent or grandparent tells you to get that phone out of your face, remind them that you are reading an article, catching up with your cousin, or researching the maintenance requirements for a man-made island.
Keep reading, learning, and spreading positivity to the world through your fingertips. Keep evolving! Never stop growing. Because we are the generation that will bring the change that the world so desperately needs. Please, to my generation, keep being "damn millennials!"
