If I had a dollar for every time I've had an elder apologize to me, feeling sorry for me in regards to my generation and how I've grown up accordingly, I would be very rich. You see, I understand where they are coming from to an extent. As a generation, millennials have come to take tradition for granted, to trade in physical contact for FaceTime, to share thoughts on social media rather than pen and paper. We've become blind to luxury and accessibility, we do not acknowledge things to be covetable, although our parents could never have imagined things such as hover boards or even a female presidential candidate. It's because of this that my generation gets labeled to be spoiled, narcissistic, self-absorbed, rude, etc. While I do believe this to be true about a few people here and there, it is rather unfair and unjustified to lump the whole generation together.

As a whole, the millennial generation is generally more open minded, accepting, and logical when it comes to social and political issues, especially in this day and age. Same-sex marriage, gun-control, police brutality, gender equality; as a generation, millennials have had a front-row seat to various types of controversies and issues as they've played out right before our eyes; the very controversies and issues that have come to define today's world. However, we've come a very long way as a country since the parents of millennials, Generation X, if you will, was born. Equality, although it is still being fought for in some respects, is more universal now than it ever has been, across all demographics. Breakthroughs in things such as technology and medicine are happening at a more rapid speed than ever before. This can easily be attributed to the increased level of access to and ambition for education among millennials.

The truth is, millennials represent something bigger. Millennials represent a society where being different in any way, may it be sexual orientation, race, gender, income, is not only accepted, but
encouraged. A society where respect and support are given for Caitlyn Jenner, a society where Hillary Clinton is running for President, a society where more girls are pursuing STEM majors than ever before. The truth is, while the millennial generation takes things for granted, the hatred toward our generation ultimately stems from jealousy.

The world in which millennials live is one that our parents and their parents will likely never come to fully understand and adapt to accordingly. While we may have lost sincerity in regards to sending snail mail, calling home phones, and meeting people in person, we have not forgotten what makes those things special and important.

Therefore, I beg you, do not feel sorry for my generation. My generation is booming and growing every single day, in so many different ways. My generation represents the most diverse group of people the world has ever seen, representing a plethora of differing backgrounds and demographics. My generation is changing norms, breaking barriers, making strides toward equality, justice, and liberty. My generation is making privilege more universal. My generation is making me proud. Instead, feel sorry for the generations to come. Feel sorry for generations who will never live in a time where the dictionary does not include the word "selfie."