“Millennial”.
It’s as catchy as it is annoying. What started out as a classification for a generation, has turned into a buzzword driving consumerism, the workplace, and the internet. It’s a label and a lifestyle wrapped into one. We’re the tech-savvy, entitled generation who is forever seeking guidance and has an affinity for avocado toast.
Right?
Right.
There’s truth to every stereotype. We do love to treat ourselves, buy self-help books, and pay for $15 avocado toast we could make at home for less than $5. Sue us. It’s also wrong if you choose to generalize 1.8 billion people (about a quarter of the world’s population) according to the Pew Research Center. In that 1.8 billion, there’s a mix of people born between 1981–1996 who’ve lived varying experiences. I’m not writing this piece to complain, or create a “woe are we” press statement for millennials (I can already hear the rebuttals). Just hear me out.
We are the generation where the most impressionable years of our life were split in half between VCRs and DVD players. I frrrreeeeeaked out going to the Apple Store to play with the original iPod on display. The years we were struggling through puberty, we were also CODING on Myspace at 13-years old. We’re often called out for our obsession with technology, but maybe it’s because social media is where our emerging memories of growing into adulthood began. Who can forget the traumatic experiences of being removed from a BFFs “Top 8”, or excitement of hearing a *bing* on AIM and seeing your crush’s username? Naturally, we continued to let the internet and social platforms shape our identities and life experiences.
We also lived through some real stuff. Often times during moments when we didn’t always understand or have the broader perspective we do today. I have a friend who can recount the impact of being in elementary school as a Muslim-American during 9–11. Having to process his identity in a world influenced by fear and unfair generalizations about his heritage. I know millennials who’ve laid their fathers and brothers to rest before their Sweet 16 as a result of the war. I have friends whose families lost everything in the recession. Blending into our classrooms by day, while moving from shelter to shelter at night. I know people who’ve beaten cancer multiple times and you’d never know. I have a significant number of friends who worked on average 4 jobs in college and graduated top of their class and nearly $100,000 in undergrad debt. Sure, we like selfies, but we have a depth of character too.
I’ve been told the argument “Well other generations went through the same thing, with different circumstances. Stop whining.” Which leads to my point… Being born in a different generation doesn’t negate the fact that we’re all human. We’re all human. So let’s stop with the side eyes and low blows. Stop serving the sass generations who came before us. That also goes both ways. Millennials, stop thinking every other generation is out to get us (because they’re not. Well.. at least not all of them.) Take time to hear stories from family, mentors, and people who paved roads before us. Take time to learn the history of your cultures. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and be curious about our predecessors. They know quite a few things and 99% of the time, they’re willing to share their wisdom.
These classifications of “Millennial”, “Gen Y”, “Baby-Boomer” and such are just that: classifications. You just happened to be born in the era you were born. It doesn’t make you any more or less of an individual. Let’s stop trying to establish a hierarchy of being the best (or worst from popular opinion) and start working together to figure some important stuff out. Like saving our planet, establishing equal rights for all, banishing ill-informed archetypes and so much more. No single generation is going to do it on their own. Even the brightest new-comers credit their inspiration and success to people who illuminated a path for them. So yeah, maybe this sounds like me trying to start a kumbaya circle, but we need to start somewhere.
Let’s drop the jargon, open up the doors, and start collaborating to spark cross-generational conversations that matter.