Gen Y is a special bunch, yet we never seem to receive the credit we deserve. As those from the generations ahead of us roll their eyes and talk about our “Millennial entitlement” or our addiction to technology, they forget that the world is in our hands now. They fail to see the good that we will do for it, and they overlook all the qualities that make us unique and great. Gen Y is the generation that will make an impact like we have never seen before, and here is why:
We Never Settle
Sure, we may be waiting longer to get married, settle down, and have kids, but we aren’t too worried about it. We aren’t willing to settle on any aspects of our lives. We are willing to wait for the perfect spouse or hop from job to job until we find the one that is meant for us. It may sound cliched, but we truly aren’t afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
We Are Committed to Our Education
According to the Pew Research Center, the Millennial generation is on track to become the most educated generation yet. So spare us the speech and stop attributing our mistakes to the fact that “we’re young and we just don’t know.” Trust me, there is a lot that we do know. Don’t insult our education or our knowledge. We care about learning, and we care about our education, so much so that we are willing to take on an average of $45,000 of debt. We know it’s worth it.
We Care About the Future of the World
Contrary to what other generations may believe, we don’t see the world as our own personal stomping ground. We see the change that needs to be made, and we want to be that change. The Huffington Post recently reported that 61 percent of Millennials are worried about the state of the world and feel personally responsible to make a difference. We take that responsibility seriously; 81 percent of Gen Y has donated money, goods, or services towards a cause they believe in.
We Possess New, Important Skills
Sure, our great-uncle may appreciate our ability to set up his voice mail account, and grandma may love that we can teach her how to use her cell phone to connect with us in new ways, but our ability goes way beyond that. We have grown up immersed in technology like no other generation, and therefore we possess skills that even CEOs are looking to learn. No, we haven’t lost the ability to communicate face to face; that skill will never be obsolete. We have, however, adapted to communicating across all forms of new and old media. From writing for Odyssey to writing a well-crafted thank-you note, we know the ins and outs of technology, when to use it, and when it’s better left powered down.
We Are Confident
The mistaken idea of Millennial entitlement needs to be thrown out the window. Our generation is confident. We have taken the time to figure out who we are, and our individuality means the world to us. Indeed, 75 percent of Generation Y see themselves as authentic and aren’t willing to compromise their family and personal values. We are looking for more than just money and happiness, we want to be fulfilled. We want to find a company to work for, or to consume goods from, that shares our values. If we can’t find it, we will make it ourselves: 54 percent of Millennials either want to start a business within the next five years, or already have.
So, next time someone rolls their eyes and sighs about those Millennial “kids these days,” remind them what makes us so special. Remind them that we are the ones that companies want to hire right now, and we will be those who are running our own companies within the next couple of years, if we aren’t already. Let’s raise a glass to the generation that’s taken the world by storm, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Here’s to you, my fellow Millennials.
