Millennial and Proud

Something most people outside of the millennial generation don’t realize is that we are the way we are because of everyone before us. Why is it Gen X doesn’t seem to realize that THEY are the ones who gave us the participation ribbons and trophies that we all “need”? Why do they not think that we all randomly woke up one day and thought “Man, I’m not going to be motivated at all until someone gives me something for it”?

Motivation comes from hate.

If someone told me, a proud millennial (1993 baby!), that I was a lazy, good-for-nothing lady because I am 25 years old, what do you think I would say or do? I would tell them exactly where to shove it, first off. Second off, I would tell them that I run two businesses, am currently in university to become a CPA, am happily married to my best friend (who is also a millennial), and have no debt (minus a mortgage because we just bought our first house). And then I would ask, “What were you doing at 25 years old?” What motivates me is the fact that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of Gen X humans that think I cannot do what I am already doing. They believe I am getting help from “mommy and daddy” and that they will “bail me out” if something goes wrong. Well, let me tell you that my parents, although very supportive, would never give me anything for free because that’s not how they raised me. And I would never take anything from them, especially money, because they earned that. That is their hard-earned cash.

Stuck in the Middle

Besides the issue of being told “Oh, all y’all need participation ribbons because y’all are too soft,” I am tired of being overlooked for Gen Z. Millennials are like the middle child - no one remembers us and we’re always overlooked, until it comes time to place blame somewhere (I would know, I am the middle child). Gen Z also had participation ribbons and trophies, but they receive no hate because they’re “still young”? I do realize that some of Gen Z is under the age of 18 years, meaning they are not legal adults. But you can bet your buttons that I had my first job at 16 years old and that I worked my butt off to get where I am today. So what about those Gen Z individuals? Where are their insults and scoldings? Nowhere to be found in the vicinity that I am aware of.

No Shade, All Love

Now, this isn’t a hate message against Gen X. This is just your average millennial, trying to get her point across. If they can say anything about the majority of us, it’s that we’re determined. We are vicious when it comes to getting what we want. We always have a point to make and no one will stop us from making it. It may annoy them to all get out, but since we have sat back, listened to their points, and not commented on their mistakes (well, maybe once... or ten times), the least they could do is allow us the same courtesy.

This is also no hate towards Gen Z. I mean, who else is going to be there when we need assistance? Without Gen Z, neither of my businesses would be staffed up or have customers. If anything, they are in the same boat as millennials - stuck with some weird tagline that they did not ask for.

It ain’t no thang.

All millennials, like any mass generalization, cannot be lumped into one category. There is no descriptor for every single person born in the Gen Y bracket. But, from experience with my city, I can gladly say that most of my millennial peers are on the right track to doing something worthwhile. Many believe we are the ones to save the world from the mistakes made by Gen X. Maybe those believers are right. Many also believe we are driving the world faster towards its doom because of our “free-thinking” ways. Maybe, that’s also a huge possibility. But at the end of the day, I think many can agree that it does not matter what age you are. Hard work and motivation are available to all. You just have to know where to find it and how to use it to the best of your ability.

So, whatever Gen you are, what do you think? Should age be a discriminatory factor when looking at someone’s achievements or work ethic? Should we continue with the statements like “Oh, you’re young. You have no idea what it’s like,” when in fact, we do have an idea? As a human, I believe we are entitled to our own opinions. As a 25-year-old female, I believe that if you have not lived in the other person’s shoes (which I can GUARANTEE you have not), then do not underestimate what they are capable of. That includes yourself.