We live in a society today where millennials get a bad rap. The millennial generation is known as the generation that is lazy and who thinks that they are entitled and that it is alright to be dependent on the older adults in their lives. We are known as the generation that is disrespectful, and we must be able to have our safe spaces because we tend to get our feelings hurt way too easily. It is easy to see why we have these stereotypes against us if given even a little bit of time just to sit back and view those around us. Having grown up a part of this generation, I have could see how my generation acts and can see why we have so many of these stereotypes about us. Though I understand where older generations are coming from in how they view my generation, I disagree with the fact that the largest majority of us fall into every single one of the stereotypes against us. Though I believe that there are many in our generation who do fit into one or more of the stereotypes, it is unfair that our whole generation is categorized under them just because of the ones that do fall under them.
Like I said, I do see why older generations view our generation as being the lazy, entitled, disrespectful generation. There are so many of us though that work hard, don’t expect everything to just be handed to us, and try to have the utmost respect for those around us. In saying this, I’m not trying to justify anything and say that it’s okay for my peers to act the way that they do, because I don’t feel it is right that they think that they can sit back and act as if they deserve everything to just be handed to them. I believe that we should all work for what we get.
There are people that come from various backgrounds, who may not always be able to have the nicest things, who may not be able to afford to go to the best schools, have the nicest clothes, etc. A lot of times, the millennials who grew up in lifestyles like this usually can appreciate what they have more than someone who may come from a family where they could afford to go to the nicest schools, own the nicest clothes, own the fanciest items. There are exceptions to both sides, no matter what the case is. It seems like the largest majority of the millennials that appreciate what they have, who know how to value what they have, who know what it’s like to live on very little money every month, and who work as hard as they can for what they have, tend to usually are the ones who grew up like that.
Some of us work very hard for anything and everything that we have. I know I’m guilty of having my “entitled millennial” moments, but all in all, I work hard for just about everything I have. I am starting to become more ashamed by the day to be a millennial because there are so many millennials who do fit the stereotypes. I am hoping that one day, rather sooner than later, the millennials who do fit into the stereotypes realize just how bad our generation and do their best to change for the better. We will one day be the generation that oversees the country, be the generation that all other generations look up and ask advice from. I don’t want to be a part of the generation that ends up running the country down. I want to be a part of a generation that seeks growth and builds the country up. I want to be a part of a generation that seeks continuous spiritual growth and demands growth of the country to be towards Christ and not to man.
With how we are living today, it seems like there are several millennials today are so wrapped up in hearing everything negative about our generation, that they are starting to doubt themselves and their ability to be good citizens. It seems like there are many millennials who are starting to turn towards the stereotypes because they don’t know much else to do after hearing the stereotypes. This isn’t the direction we are going.
Millennials, I know it may seem like everything is getting harder, and it truly is, but keep your heads up. We can make it through. Just strive to be the best that you can be. Let’s not only "Make America Great Again" by being the best that we can be in everything we do, but let’s "Make America Great Again" by turning this nation towards God. Let’s start the change in the world and prove these stereotypes wrong. Let’s stop sitting back and making the problems with the country worse. Let’s go out and fix all the problems that we see that we can manage.
Older generations, while I know it is easy to judge a whole generation on a group of bad seedlings, please take into consideration every member of the generation, not just those who are part of the problem. I know it is hard to do with not being able to meet and interact with every member of the millennial generation, but keep in mind that there are millennials no matter where you are at that are trying to do their best at making not only our states, or our country better, but to also make this world a better place for everyone to live in. Keep in mind that there are those of us who are striving towards the lives that we feel God is calling us to go towards so that we may do our best to make our world a place where people want to live freely and not be scared for any reason whatsoever.
The millennial generation is not a generation that needs to be judged for their actions. The millennial generation is a generation that is in desperate need of guidance and of prayer. We are a generation that needs not criticism, but constructive criticism. Instead of being told what we are doing wrong, we need to be told how we can improve.
