Creative Millennials: you hate them, or you are one.
It seems that today, there is no in-between. These creative-career millennials are called lazy, spoiled, entitled, self-involved, and "self-proclaimed overachievers" - many say those are the qualities of a millennial, but I think they're far from that. We're far from that.
We're a generation who is currently experiencing a technological boom that will forever alter our social tendencies, relationships, workplace expectations, and work-life balance. We don't necessarily see the benefits in ignoring our personal preferences, intellectual freedoms, or creativity. We want to use the newest apps, get our news as quickly as possible, talk to friends halfway across the world, and even become something on the internet: a second world that has developed in front of us over the past ten years. We have the same will and drive as our predecessors, but we don't express the same greed or volatility. We're people who aren't afraid to commit to what we hold dearly. We'll speak up when we feel we're being underrepresented or more frequently, misrepresented. We'll major in English, Studio Arts, or History because those things matter to us. We're happy with our choices and oft-unhappy with the way the older generations criticize them.
But this isn't a cry for help or the waving of a digital white flag. This is the dispelling of all the vile, vicious descriptions millennials have burdened since the title's inception.
Millennials run businesses, millennials create some of the most inspiring and striking pieces of art, millennials influence politics (more than most older generations would like to admit), but most importantly, millennials are not afraid to take risks. Not all of them are held-up by the funds of their mothers or fathers. In fact, I'd argue that most are not. Most are willing to accept that they're not taking the most monetarily fulfilling positions, but where the positions lack in monetary compensation, they excel in mental and personal fulfillment.
These 18-28-year-old writers, dancers, baristas, CEOs, artists, musicians, actors and actresses, filmmakers, chefs, tattoo artists, tattooed business professionals, creative directors, art directors, photographers and numerous more, all took risks. They didn't fear what would happen next. They knew what they wanted, and they went after it.
Can't you commend this generation for being the one to tirelessly defend what is dear to them? To spend every waking moment dedicated to something we feel passionately about? To sheer away from the norms and try to create something that will outlive us? It's impossible to imagine the world without the millennial population. We're trying our best to change your opinion of us, but ultimately, if we can't, we'll be just as happy knowing our choices were our own and based solely on what we wanted - and that's a happy, creative, fulfilling life that not only betters us but ensures the betterment of the world around us.
