More and more recently, I see article after article shaming millennials for one thing or another, ranging from selfies to entitlement, to laziness, and frankly, I've had enough. There are a lot of things going on today, a lot of very important things, but it seems like people care more about degrading an entire group of people than focusing on things that are relevant to their own lives.
One of the biggest complaints I see about millennials is that we're lazy. Where that comes from, I honestly don't know. Growing up in a time where jobs are difficult to come by, tuition is at its highest and rights are still being fought for, we are a generation of people that are simply trying to live the life our parents were able to have. With a lack of jobs that stemmed from an economic crisis which most of us were not a part of, millennials today are working harder than ever to find a career and support themselves financially. 30 and even 20 years ago, college degrees weren't mandatory to get a job. If you didn't have one, there was still hope, and if you did, you just boosted your chances even more and a job was almost guaranteed. Another thing to consider is that the average cost of a private college in 1996 was around $20,000, which is now cheaper than the cost of a 4-year public institution.
$20,000 in 1996 was certainly a lot of money but because it was easier to get a job, whether it be over the summer or on/off campus during the school year, paying the cost of tuition or the loans was also significantly easier. Today, getting a job is extremely difficult, and the cost of an average private 4-year college is almost double what it was 20 years ago. Understanding this, our generation doesn't go lightly about picking colleges, and we understand the amount of debt we'll be in upon graduation with the small hope of getting a career in our field of choice that earns us not only enough money to pay back our loans but enough money to support ourselves so we're not stuck living at home for years to come.
Another thing we're shamed for is our use of social media, smartphones, and selfies. A unique thing about Generation Y, or Millennials, is that we remember a time before social and media and cell phones. We remember landlines with cords, CD players, and Microsoft Paint being the only app available. Our generation is in an interesting spot of growing up with extreme advancements in technology earlier than our parents, but not being born with it like kids today.
Social media has grown tremendously and provides an outlet for us to share our thoughts, promote ideas, and connect like never before. While there are problems that go along with it, these aren't problems specific to our generation. Articles shaming us for our choices in music and clothing simply aren't true. Changes in fashion and music occur every year, and there is certainly going to be a generational gap, so making a point to tell us how much you hate what we wear and listen to is a moot point- we don't care and it's a waste of your time to tell us.
Another point that continues to be argued is that we're too coddled and entitled because we got trophies "just for participating." The thing is, that's wrong. If anyone is entitled, it's the generation who grew up knowing that if they did well in school, they'd get a scholarship for college, and after graduating, they'd get the job of their choice, a good house, and be able to start a family. On the flip side, there's us. We grew up extremely conscious of the fact that doing all of those things still might not get us what we want, and while we wish it did (who doesn't?), we know we just have to keep working hard to hopefully achieve our goals.
In terms of being coddled, we're told that "the real world won't care" or that the point we're making "is irrelevant and not worth fighting for." Although the real world might not care, we care, and in the not too distant future, we will be the real world. By being a group of people that doesn't stand for the gender wage-gap, homophobia, racism, or the misuse of gender pronouns, we are slowly but surely forming a society in which people can be themselves and don't have to worry about being bullied or continuing to fight for rights that shouldn't have to be fought for in this day and age.
Finally, another big complaint about us is that we're "always on our phones" and love ourselves too much. Why that's a problem still baffles me because shouldn't everyone love themselves? If you see me on my phone, chances are I'm talking to my friends because it's instant. I'm sending a text instead of writing a letter that will take 3 days to arrive. I'm checking my email because believe it or not I have important emails I need to respond to. Smartphones make life easier, and not wanting to be a part of that is a choice, but shaming us for wanting to join in on a faster and more social world is also a choice. Just because we're growing up in a time when we have the ability to do everything from our phones doesn't mean we're not paying attention to the conversation or that we no longer talk to each other. Just because I don't pick up the phone to talk to my friends doesn't mean we don't talk. If anything, we talk more because can instantly. We appreciate phone calls because we remember when it was our only option, but we've accepted the change and grown with it.
Centuries ago, people would stand for hours just to have a family portrait painted to be hung above the mantle, or they'd stand for 20 minutes to have a photo taken of themselves. Today, we can take a selfie with the click of a button and suddenly that's too much to handle. So yes, I'm going to send that Snapchat and post that photo to Instagram because I can. I'm going to capture these moments because I want to and have the ability to do so.
Despite what far too many people might think, Millennials aren't lazy or entitled. We are simply existing in a rapidly changing time and doing our best to handle what's thrown at us. We are going to college expecting debt so we can one day support ourselves and a family. We are always on our phones because we have the ability to do work and socialize anywhere, and we are always sharing photos because we want to show not only our friends but the world what is happening. Whether that photo gets 1 like or 100, we are sharing it because we can. We are using social media to spread movements, promote ideas and fight for our rights. Things are happening at a much faster rate than they were 20 years ago, and if no one else, Millennials are the ones keeping up.
