Oh those millennials! Born approximately 1977-1998, generation y is described as optimistic, inventive, diverse, group-oriented, great at technology and full of high expectations. As a member of generation x (1965-1976) I am labeled as distrustful, practical, independent, feeling overlooked and underappreciated. Looking through this lens, I am viewing the millennials. Are they a repeat of the baby boomers, only more accepting of others and the latest technologies?
Human resource press has had a field day with the millennials. How to mentor, what they expect, how they think. So the millennial is between ages 10 and 31. They are hitting the workforce with high expectations and turning it on its ear, according to the media. They seem to require a lot of attention. Their parents seem to be over-involved.
Is this an accurate picture?
I am currently exploring what media and polls say about millennials and what the reality is or could be. Do I simply have a pessimistic gen x viewpoint? I like the millennials I know but find them to be very different in their actions. They don't like menial work, that's for sure. They don't feel beholden to anyone. They seem to be willing to do what older generations have thought but not dared to even say. I'm not sure what's next. They aren't aiming to be administrative assistants and paramedics! Somebody's gotta do the non-fun stuff (and has been doing it for cheap) - maybe a young millennial genius will invent a robot to do it. I just keep watching. The earth seems in trouble as usual with food riots, economic gloom and war in addition to the usual threats of doom (global warming, evil-doers and meteorites, for example).
What happens if when I get older, the world doesn't collapse in upon itself, the economy doesn't lead us all into starvation, and I get a social security check? Will I laugh at my pessimism and feel lighthearted in the lovely world? or will I feel disappointed that my gen x worldview was skewed?
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