People from all over the world have traveled to America for the “American Dream”— a set of principles in which freedom includes the opportunity for success through hard work. Lives have been built and families created on this standard. Yet, hard work exists as a loaded phrase. Today, there are millions who struggle to put food on the table or keep a roof above their head, no matter the amount of hard work sacrificed. Generation Y—or the Millennials—grew up in the shadow of the American Dream. Born between 1980 and 2000, Generation Y stands as a voice that states the American Dream was never our dream at all.
But this does not mean Millennials are outfitted for a different life, we just want it in a different way. Statistics state we are depressed and poor and struggling to find meaning. Because according to the American Dream, if we are not married and raising children, is it really a dream at all? In 1980, the average marriage age was 22 opposed to the average age being 27 for Generation Y. Somehow, this statistic rules us incompetent and lazy. Yet when I look around, I see brilliant, flourishing minds, not focused on building a family but rather building themselves. We are a generation geared towards bettering who we are before we create anything further. And that is okay!
Our generation thrives off freedom as well, but rather freedom of expression and free speech. We are loud, angry, and ready to make a change. We want to know why things are happening and we want to make them happen if not. More than ever, opinions are arising and shedding light on problems that society has shadowed in the past. A quick glance around, and you will see fresh young faces are making important moves. We are not mindless drones who can only tweet or text, but we are the generation that mastered the art of effective social media. Society has shifted, making room for the morals and standards we have set for ourselves. People are realizing we can be the driving force for important issues.
In 2010, the Taliban launched an assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzia. Their reasoning? The then 15-year-old girl wanted an education. In Pakistan, schools all over were being shut down and many found themselves being silenced. Malala stood up for her right to education as well as the education of children all over the world, and the Taliban shot her in the head. To their dismay, Malala has made a full recovery and is now the youngest-ever Noble Prize laureate. At 18, she has become an international movement and has given Generation-Y a newfound hope that our efforts are not futile and our voices can be heard.
I am proud of my peers. I am proud of what we are accomplishing and what we can continue to accomplish. Every hashtag on twitter and every trending story on Facebook share one common thread—we are sick of the way things are going. We are trying to better this earth in every way possible so that we have a platform to improve upon. Because Generation Y sees the value in our environment, rather than our value alone. And finally, we are going to do something about it. Generation-Y is ready to ask why not?
