This past week, I read an article in my 11th-grade literature class about millennials. Millennials are considered people who were born between the years of 1980 and 2000. My class consists of people born in the years 1999 and 2000, so we are barely millennials.
The article was about three pages long, back and front. The last page or so was about the author and how even though he was a millennial, he agreed with most stereotypes placed on our generation. The first couple of pages were bad-mouthing millennials. It was saying things like we are narcissistic, lazy, selfish and entitled. The author even had statistics to back it up! The whole time I was reading this, I was feeling beside myself. How could my generation be considered those things and could they possibly be true?
Here is how; my generation grew up with technology that other generations did not have access to as kids. The youngest people in the generation, like myself, can't remember a life without cell phones. My mom and dad have each had one for as long as I can remember. I got my first phone when I was in fifth grade and I've had one ever since. The people considered millennials are not entirely to blame for high rates of narcissism and feelings of entitlement. Technology taught us we could have anything in a matter of days with the click of a button online or from our phones. The rise of selfies and Snapchat has made us more self-obsessed. Sure, these things could be true but just because some millennials are like that, does not mean we all are.
A perfect example of somebody who defies the reputation we have as millennials is my best friend, Max. He is not selfish, but rather selfless. Max is only 16, but has already created an unbelievably successful charity called Game Givers. Game Givers is a non-profit organization that donates new and gently used video games and consoles to children's hospitals. So far, he has raised $54,275 in video games and monetary donations. He shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. You can donate here.
The truth about millennials is we are leaders, inventors, and entertainers. My generation is made up of thinkers and hard workers that are capable of anything we set our minds to. Millennials leaders are your future leaders. There are no limits on what we can do.
