Hello, my name is Ariel and I want to talk about the excitement I have for my generation: the millennial generation, to be specific. You, too, are a part of the millennial generation if you were born between the years of 1981 and 1997. Sometimes I forget that I am within this "category", likely because I just made the cut by being born in 1997, but that is beside the point. My day-to-day life is a reflection of what this generation represents, and I want to discuss what I, myself, believe it represents.

One day in class one of my professors put some questions on the board for the class to discuss within small groups. The questions revolved around any racism that us as students might have, as well as the acceptance of diversity within Virginia Tech. I hate admitting this, but, in my head, I almost thought the questions were ridiculous. I almost felt attacked. When my group and I came together to discuss the questions, we too thought the questions were ridiculous. Do you want to know why? The reason is because we are the millennial generation; we are the generation that has been the most inclusive to all races, religions, sexualities, and cultures than any other generation before us. I have close friends that are Christian, Muslim, agnostic, gay, straight, black, and white. My group members had similar responses to mine; we all agreed that we are the most inclusive generation. Now, how is that not accepting diversity? To start off with what I believe this generation represents is, firstly, the inclusion of all.

Next, I want to talk about technology. Oh how incredible it is that flying to space is possible, or even donating a heart. Just think about it...we can actually do that! Wow. Look at the generations before us that used their knowledge and brought brilliant successes to this earth. Now, imagine what it is going to be like when the millennial generation grows up. With school being as competitive and challenging as ever before, imagine what the brainiacs of my generation are going to show the world. A cure to cancer? Space travel beyond the solar system? Time travel? Flying cars? I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but hey, people thought flying to space would never happen, and look at us now. I am immensely excited by the knowledge that my generation is going to bring to the world because I know that the technology we create will be for the benefit of all.

I find it so fascinating to reminisce on generations: to see the changes in technology, rule of law, and social liberties over time. So many aspects of my daily life are something that someone else from hundreds of years ago made that was once impossible: airplanes, cell phones, computers, etc. The world is always changing, and it is always changing for the better so that society can learn more about the universe, and mankind itself. Humankind is brilliant and because of that nothing is impossible; we are always learning. I wish I could live in a time where cancer was cured and commercial space travel was real, but my generation and I will just have to wait and see as we wait for our time to shine. The real question is: what exactly is going to make us shine?