Living as a Millennial

As a millennial, I conform to my generation’s stereotype by challenging normatives and being excessively ambitious. But is such a “go-getter” attitude always applicable to those born into Generation Y? Do we benefit from luxurious things as we grow up and do we truly not understand the importance of working diligently? Am I consistently delusional and entitled? I think not. It is disconcerting to live in a world in which millennials are cast to the side by previous generations as “incubated in beauty and comfort and spaciousness,” as writer Jennifer Graham ever so insensitively phrases it in The Boston Globe. Graham generalizes and insults all millennials through her opinion editorial by calling us the “idle trophy kids” and saying that we are the “victims” of our parents’ success. How ignorant can a full-grown adult be to presume that millennials all lead luxurious livesthe type of lifestyles that were unheard of, unless one were in the “Kennedy” or “Bush” family.

Such an act—believing that millions conform to a specific stereotype—is not only detrimental to the development of a young individual’s identity, but also to his or her freedom. To ignore the luck some teenagers have by living with central heating or a personal debit card is disgusting. To stereotype a whole generation as nesting in the security their parents created is ignoring the uniqueness of every family’s circumstance. It is ignoring how often the millennials are tasked with the mission of succeeding either financially or educationally, especially if their parents were unable to make the American dream a reality. It is ignoring the desperation in which many “anchor babies” must lead their lives in order to validate their parents’ efforts to live in a foreign country.

According to online surveys and esteemed authors, millennials often lack loyalty, are addicted to technology, lack experience and have selfish career goals. Statistics, such as the one presented by The Hartford claiming that only 15 percent of millennial workers are motivated by “meaningful work” and 38 percent are driven by prospects of gaining money, are unrepresentative of all millennials. The general public, however, will not stop to question such reports and would rather dispute the danger of such figures and possible approaches to rectifying the supposed ignorance that is associative to the millennials. What must be questioned is the legitimacy of such studies and scholarly works because of their alarming influence over the ill-informed populace. How large was the sample size when the study was conducted? What were the religious, racial, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds of the individuals put into question? Were the conductors of such research part of the millennial generation, or were they the indirect perpetrators of an unrecognized crime—the act of demeaning of Generation Y.

There are undeniable benefits to being a part of Generation Y, such as the ability to access more information and technologies than any of my predecessors. As a result, I am perhaps innovative and well-informed about social issues. On the other hand, I will enter a corporate world in which the majority of my fellow workers will be as old as my parents or grandparents, and I will be obliquely deterred from being liberal. I will be required to always “toe the line” whether it constitute wearing a skirt that goes past my knees or not speaking up in a workplace conference.

Identifying as a millennial has had its drawbacks, especially in regard to obtaining a formal education. Often educational institutions will be socially stratified, whether the groups be of specific denominations, interests or political ideologies. Though at first sight the most distinctive factions are exclusive on the basis of race, the divide between liberals and conservatives is difficult to disregard within an educational setting. It is rather unfortunate that the more traditional members of American society regard the younger and more liberal generation with a visible sense of distaste that causes fear and insecurity. Why mention the discord between liberals and conservatives? Because millennials are often the liberals, the ones who grew up with informalities rather than conformities. Therefore, if a millennial identifies as a traditionalist, they will be accepted by those older but shunned by their peers. If a millennial is liberal, they will blend into a sea of liberalism made up of their fellow millennials, but also be a rebel in the eyes of their professors. Therefore it is understandable why in educational institutions such as Exeter, there are no large coalitions of conservatives or extravagant public displays of their beliefs. In an age in which free speech and progressiveness are the ideals, society thinks it’s strange to be advocates of tradition. Should educational systems be supportive of both radical and orthodox thoughts within the student body? But of course. It is not realistic to expect a harmonious blend of polar opposites, and perhaps that is the challenge of identifying as a millennial. Are we to conform or to diverge and revolutionize? It is a curious thought. ♥