What words do you hear associated with millennials? Lazy, incompetent, selfish? Older generations are often found criticizing and scolding our generation. I mean, why wouldn’t they? We speak out of turn. We speak over others. We speak just to be heard. We create new apps to make simple mundane tasks quick and easy. We take the easy way out. We take longer to leave the nests of our parents' houses. We don’t follow the rules and traditions. We are game-changers.
When we speak out of turn, we speak on what matters. We make sure that the truth is said and no one gets overlooked. When we speak over others, it is so that the minorities can get a voice too. We speak over people to make sure that we do not get lost in the chaos and noise. We speak to make sure that we are heard.
But we also listen. We listen to those whose voices may not have been accounted for before. We listen to opinions of those whom we do not necessarily agree with. Furthermore, we advocate for those whose voices can be hushed. We are called selfish, but I believe it is just a misunderstanding. Our perseverance and dedication to what is right is so powerful that it is misinterpreted as selfishness. We shake the boat and it scares people. All those years of our parents telling us that we could be whatever we wanted when we grew up if we just believed has manifested itself through our steadfast commitment to our beliefs.
Our constant attachment to our electronics is another common criticism. We are always changing and innovating. Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing? We have made the time-consuming activities take a fraction of the time. Allowing us to focus more time into what we enjoy. People believe we are lazy but that fact is that we are innovative. We realized that we have to do the mandatory things but we do not have to spend the same amount of time on them. It has been a common misconception that we simply avoid or ignore the necessities. We aren’t. We are simply finding ways to spend less time so that we can spend more time doing what we love. Because doing what you love is what can make you happy. If that is so wrong, I don’t want to be right. Millennials take the easy–no, efficient–way out. We do not try to cut corners. We get around the corners faster but turning the harsh corners of squares into the smooth transitions of circles through innovations.
We take longer to leave home. We are too dependent on our family. Or maybe, we just hold unity and togetherness as a priority. People say we are not ready to support ourselves because we can’t hold a job or handle the real world. But the truth is, we are focused on trying to change the “real world” to a place where everyone can be real. In a world where nothing and no one is as they seem, millennials are trying to mold a new society where we can have careers that better than world rather than destroy it. We want to make the change, not just join the assembly line of mundane life.
Millennials have no respect for tradition or customs. We respect it but we don’t agree with it. That’s the beauty of us. We have great respect for where we came from and what we grew up on. We are constantly nostalgic for our childhood days. All the “'90s kids” and “old Disney” posts on social media only further confirm that. We have a great respect for the past and we hold it dear. With that respect, we propel ourselves further to change the world we live in. I recently read a post that we are the reason that Victoria Secret’s lingerie and other notoriously sexy companies are losing profits. Millennials are breaking away from the sexy stereotypes and embracing the natural beauty that we all possess. We have gone from push-up bras to bralettes or even bra-less. I believe that is one of the things I am most proud of. We are challenging society to embrace the natural things we all have. We are challenging people to be comfortable in who they are and not fear they must change for approval. That is the opposite of selfish, that is selfless. That is amazing. We are breaking the double standards of genders. We talk about the unspeakables. We speak about gender gaps, rapes, the “Pink Tax” and so much more. We are not afraid to be heard. We are not afraid to say what we feel. We are not afraid to bring about change.
I am proud to be a Millennial because we are diverse in thought but unified in the belief that everyone is unique. We break the boundaries of customs and society. I believe we are a big part of the change that society has needed for a very long time.
