Gen Y Millennials: Meet Hard Times

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Well, kids to me, as I'm one of the older generation. :-) I have to say that I've seen none of the so-called signs of indulgence in these young folk. All of them I've known--including my own son--are hard working and good hearted. One of my son's friends is from a low-income Eastern European immigrant background, and he's worked hard at a job since he was 15, while still maintaining a great GPA. He's now rising in the ranks of AT&T, going to college on their dime after helping his sister through college, supplying his brother with school supplies and clothes, and now saving money to buy his parents a house. This is no way an indulged young man or a slacker. Another of my son's friends is from a solid middle-class background, but had worked full time during high school, went to early basic training with the Marines, volunteered at church, and still maintained a stellar GPA in advanced placement classes--not because he parents wanted him to (in fact, they tried to discourage him from his extracurricular activities), but because he wanted to. He's now in Iraq. My own kid is indulged in comparison: he works 20 to 30 hours a week while attending college full time, volunteering, and playing in his own band. I can name you any number of young Millennials who are nose to the grindstone in ways that neither I nor my husband had to be as lower-middle class to middle class kids. Neither of us were considered slackers when we grew up, either, and we didn't have to put up with a Zero Tolerance environment in schools that these young people had to deal with.
Millennials are not slackers. They know their path is not going to be easy, and knew it early. They know it especially now. I look at them and have a lot of hope for our country.

Karen H of WA 11:18AM November 01, 2008

Rather than listen to older people insult us, why not listen to what we have to say? www.splintergeneration.com

Seth Fischer of CA 7:32PM October 30, 2008

One more thing about Millennials: they are good hearted.
Check any helping organization and you will find Millennials. As underpaid workers or volunteers they work hard doing what needs to be done to make the world a better place and they are prepared to sacrifice to make dreams come true for people in need.
God bless 'em!

Sam C of CA 1:55AM October 29, 2008

As a member of Generation Y, I believe that we are fully aware of the daunting challenges our generation faces. Our nation is involved in a protracted and costly war, our markets are sliding toward a recession, our healthcare system is fractured, and globalization has hurt our domestic industries. However, as the author notes, we possess the necessary traits to succeed during even the most “hard times”. Like steel that is made stronger by fire, so to are Generation Y Millennials, who are tested by the aforementioned challenges. We have learned a great deal from the successes and failures of prior generations and will use that knowledge to help solve some of the most pressing issues our nation will face including the ramifications of a new globalized economy.

Roderick McClary Jr. of MI 4:28PM October 28, 2008