Last year, I made this post:
“As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I commonly see people from older generations slandering my generation. We've been called the generation of disrespect and stupidity because of the small percentage that eats laundry detergent. Although, as I look at myself and my generational peers, it's hard to find an overwhelming amount of disrespect and stupidity.
I see young people volunteering in communities, working hard in school, working, and staying involved in their schools, universities, and communities—keep in mind we juggle this all simultaneously.
I see young people standing for their beliefs and not being silenced because they're 'too young to understand.' I also see the older generation slander us as the generation of beggars and 'overly sensitive snowflakes.' Sure, we're beggars. I see young girls begging for their reproductive rights and socioeconomic equality for themselves, their mothers, and sisters. I see young people begging for stricter gun laws, because when you were in high school, your first thought when you entered a classroom wasn't, 'If someone shot up the school right here, right now, where would I run?' I see young people begging for acceptance of all of their peers and the people around them. Whether that be people entering from other countries or the LGBTQ community, or elsewhere, we fight for the equal and decent treatment of these human beings. If that makes us 'sensitive,' then so be it.
I see young people all around me revolutionizing the status quo and making a difference in this country. So, before you try to beg younger people and society in general to not be skewed by 'fake news' and the media, understand that the stereotyping of my generation is exactly that. We are here working towards the betterment of this country. We are here to make our voices heard because being "too young to understand" no longer holds validity to us. We are important. We are making a difference. And we are changing this country."
When I wrote this, I hadn't aspired to become involved in politics or help change this country in some way. Now that I do, I'm amazed by my writing for one reason: honesty.
The emotions that I aggressively posted on Facebook in a passion-filled spur were filled with my truth. Nearing two years later, I find the same results. In a country facing such turmoil, millennials have succeeded in assisting to create a pathway for progress in this country.
