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Generationally Confused

Living life within three generations: X, Y and Z.

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Generationally Confused
Fiona McGrath Nagle

If you said I was a millennial, you would be wrong. Well technically I guess you would be correct, but you would not be totally correct. According to my age group, yes I am a millennial. And yes, the articles on this platform are written by millennials. I also do identify as a millennial for the most part.

To be truthful, I am really a part of Generation X. And you might think is crazy because I was born in the late '90s and the official definition of Generation X is "the generation born after that of baby boomers (roughly from the early 1960s to mid 1970s)..." That is precisely who I am because both of my parents are a part of the Baby Boomer generation being born in the '50s. So by this definition I am a part of Generation X. Now you are probably a little bit confused now. 'Cause you're thinking, "But everyone your age is a millennial; there's no way that makes any sense." I am sorry, but it is true. I am a part of Generation X.

I do, however, claim myself (for the most part) to be a part of the millennial generation (Generation Y). All of my friends I have grown up with are a part of this generation. Well most are; some are like me too, being a part of multiple generations. As a millennial there are many stereotypes about us that are not true — well not completely true. Natalie from literallydarling.com listed 10 of the worst ones.

• That we only take selfies and don't do anything good for society

• That we're shallow narcissists

• That we're lazy

• That we're the worst generation yet

• That we all glory in the hook-up culture

• That we're materialistic and cynical

• That we're the bulk contributors to texting while driving

• That our lack of settling down and buying houses or cars is going to be the downfall of the economy

• That the Internet and technology is a detriment to our generation and our society

• That we don't know how to date

(if you'd like to read more of Natalie's article here's the link: http://www.literallydarling.com/blog/2014/09/09/wo...)

So, yes maybe some of these stereotypes might be true for some of the millennial generation, but they are not all true for most of the millennials. These stereotypes are sort of why I don't always own up to saying I am a millennial. But I am one so, I can't say I am not.

There is one more generation I am a part of. Now a lot of you might not necessarily know about this one. This one is called Generation Z. By my birth year, I am categorized as a part of this generation. Officially anyone born from 1995 until present day is a part of this generation. OK, so fine, I'm not a part of the generation my sister is a part of (which she is only five years older), but I definitely don't think I should be a part of the same generation as my nephew, whom I am 16 years older than. It doesn't make sense to me at all. OK, so yes, I feel like my best friend who is four years younger than me is a part of my generation, which, by the years we were born in, we are, but I feel we are more a part of the millennial generation than we are a part of Generation Z.

So now that I've explained how I am a part of three generations, you are probably very confused. That is OK, because I am as well. Because yes, I am a part of Generation X, since my parents are a part of the Baby Boomers generation, but I am also a millennial because my age group, but because of my birth year, I am really a part of Generation Z. Although they do say that there really isn't a true distinction of when the millennial generation ends and when Generation Z begins, so that just makes all the more confusing.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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