Millennials have a bad reputation. Synonyms for Millennial often include entitled, sheltered, narcissistic, incapable or directionless. Personally, I believe it's time to reclaim our generation and refute the title placed on an entire generation marking it as lost.
As a disclaimer, I want to make it known that I am fully aware that not everyone believes these negative things about millennials. And to those that don't, thank you, truly. But enough individuals, too many individuals, do believe these toxic ideas about an entire generation.
My co-workers and I were joking around one day and the subject of stereotyping millennials came up. We joked about it and quickly changed the subject. Yet I couldn't quite get it out of my head. As I turned it over in my mind, a hot pang of guilt hit me. I realized that even I was contributing to this label. Humor has become a defense mechanism used by our generation to deal with that societal voice insisting that we are truly directionless. I had listened to that voice for so long, I had adopted it as my own.
My mind finally grasped the realization that an entire generation, my generation, had been deemed hopeless. I refuse to accept the opinion of predecessors that, because of my year of birth, the influences of my generation, or the culture of the time period I was raised in, I am automatically made less capable or influential. We have been labelled as a generation of unemployed, child-adults that still live at home with their parents. One statistic after another points to our student loan debt, our tendency to hop from one job to another, and our lack of direction.
Yes, our generation has not fought in world shaping wars, we have been more sheltered. But isn't that what our ancestors fought for? Our grandfathers and grandmothers worked to make sure their children, and children's children, would have a stable world to grow up in. Yes, the "When I was your age ..." stories are valued and important. But if those generations before millennials would stop shaming us for our inability and teach us instead, think of our potential. Yes, I know what you are thinking, typical millennial, blaming their faults on anyone and everyone but themselves. Bear with me.
Yes, my generation was raised sheltered. Our childhoods were safe and fulfilled and we are grateful. But sometimes this means our transition into the "real" world is challenging. So this is an official proposal from a millennial, think of it as an olive branch between generations. If your mind cannot be changed about the ability and character of my generation, I can accept that. But I implore you, rather than finding new adjectives to attach to my generation describing our failures, teach us.
Teach us.
Don't write us off. yes, we lack wisdom but we do not lack vision. If you combine your experience with our enthusiasm, there is no height we can't reach. I am not asking you to change your opinions. I am only asking you to give us a chance.
Place your judgments and preconceived notions aside long enough to work with us. And after you have done that, if your ideas remain unchanged you can call us whatever you like.
