That's me in the picture on the left (I don't know what was up with my hair those days). Growing up as a kid, I liked to think that I was growing up in a pretty cool generation. On most days when not in school, most kids would be outside playing, having the time of their lives. Even when in school, most people I knew were excited and ready to learn something new. Ten plus years has now passed from the time I was considered a "kid" and now even though it is hard to believe, I am a college freshman with the chance to live somewhere for four years without having to move, maybe just the second time in my life this is happening since I grew up in a military family. 10 years is a long time, and now a new generation of kids has come, though this generation is a little different from the one many knew for the past years. This generation has all new book series, tv shows, and all new video games to play, and there is less and less kids having the time of their lives outside. Many kids have smartphones which is one of the craziest things to think about because I didn't even have my first phone until seventh grade and I had a flip phone (yes I have since upgraded). Want more proof that a generation has changed and a new one is in place? Here is four things in today's world that only prove that.
1. Donald Trump is President
While there is many people who are not happy with this fact, the fact still remains that Donald Trump is going to be the new president of the United States. Barrack Obama previously held office, for the past eight years. Eight years might not seem like that long but if you think about it, eight years ago the Harry Potter movies were still in theaters and there seemed to be little chance that a live action Star Wars movie would hit theaters again. Barrack Obama became president when I was in 6th grade and was later won his second election when I was in 8th grade. There's something to think about. Speaking of Star Wars...
2. Star Wars has once again taken over the box office
I remember sitting on the edge of my seat in a base theater in Italy watching Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Coming out of there theater, there was a feeling of happiness because the movie had actually been fairly decent and lived up to its potential (excluding Hayden Christian), yet there was also a feeling of loss and disappointment. There would be other Star Wars adventures to come, but none would have the feel that the live action movies gave or have the older characters such as Han Solo and Luke. Fast forward 10 very long years to stare open-mouthed at the screen as the millennium falcon flew across and big letters that said: Star Wars: The Force Awakens. While The Force Awakens was truly a great film, it deviates from other Star Wars movies made because it came out ten long years after Revenge of the Sith, in a new generation.
3. Alabama has been dethroned
Nick Saban was 4-0 in National Championship Games. 4-0. Nobody could figure out how to beat Saban on the biggest stage in College Football. In fact, nobody ever came very close. Enter in a new generation, and Clemson becomes the only team that had challenged Bama in a title game, falling by a heart-breaking five points. Clemson made one thing clear after that defeat in this new generation: they were out for revenge on Saban and the Crimson Tide. While it was a long road for Clemson in the duration of the 2016 season, they eventually had everything they had wished for in a rematch with the Tide on that same national stage. With five seconds left in the game, Alabama was once again leading and while almost everyone at home and in the stands was thinking that Clemson was going to somehow mess things up and Nick Saban was going to win his fifth national title, Deshaun Watson had other plans. With the clock ticking after the ball was snapped, Watson found a wide open Hunter Renfrow for a touchdown, putting Clemson in the lead with one second left. After a failed onside kick, Clemson players would rush the field and fans around the nation were both stunned and celebrating: Nick Saban had just lost in a National Championship Game, the first of this generation and the first Title loss in his career.
4. T.V. series are either ending or undergoing many changes
One of the most memorable shows that I used to watch as a kid was The Last Airbender, and it had a very similar feel to the third Star Wars film in that while many people were happy enough with the outcome, there was still depression based of that fact that it was all over. The Last Airbener tried to reboot itself in a newer generation with The Legend of Korra, but unlike the Force Awakens, the reboot of The Last Airbender failed to live up to expectations, not so much for the younger generation who did not know much about the series, but for the older kids who had grown up with Aang, Sokka, and Katara as they risked everything to defeat the Fire Nation. Another great example of a series that might have run far too long at this point is Criminal Minds. Fans were used to the relationship that Morgan and Garcia had with each other and seeing the BAU team together brought a lot of joy to audiences. Long behold a new generation came, and so did new characters. Beloved actors such as Shemar Moore resigned from the show and leading actor Thomas Gibson, who played Unit Chief leader Aaron Hotchner was kicked off the show. Sure, seeing some familiar faces such as Reid and the return of Emily Prentiss was nice to see, but the show just feels like it's in a completely different generation without the original characters of the BAU there.
While an old generation of entertainment and events has gone and a new one has come, one thing is certain by looking at all of this: there is a lot of change to come.
