I read an article in Business Insider titled: “7 ways life is harder for millennials than it was for their parents”*. I half-believed I was reading it in The Onion, but it was a serious article. The author detailed seven perceived ways that life is hard for millennials. These included:
1. Millennials are less financially stable than previous generations were.
2. Millennials are saddled with student debt — but a college education is more necessary than ever.
3. Millennial men are more likely to live at home with their parents than previous generations were.
4. Millennials are overwhelmed by the dating pool.
5. Millennials feel as if they have to be “always on” at work.
6. Millennials’ self-image erodes in the face of ever-present social media.
7. Millennials are shelling out more on childcare than previous generations were.
Honestly, it bothered me to read this. It bothered me for so many reasons, but, in particular, because it fails to understand that all generations face their own challenges, and it negates the accomplishments of the many millennials who have confronted and overcome these challenges. For the rest, it feeds their excuses.
I considered countering these from a more negative point of view, but I have decided, instead, to look at the positives these present—yes, there are countless positives for this generation. Millennials have opportunities previous generations never had. Success comes in capitalizing on these opportunities.
Millennials are less financially stable than previous generations were. Perhaps, but I seem to recall my grandparents living through this thing called the “Great Depression”. Yes, the road is initially a bit more rocky for millennials than it was for their parents, but not all of us would-be parents of millennials graduated from college with high-paying jobs. We, too, often had to take a variety of less desirable jobs to pay the bills until our “dream jobs” came along. This is life.
Consider the opportunities available to millennials who are willing to take risks and travel the uncharted waters. In the lifetime of the millennial, technology has skyrocketed. People are making fortunes developing apps for our hand-held devices. Information is available via the Internet almost instantaneously. Many of the parents of millennials sent them to college to escape the factories and mines and physical labor jobs that paid them well but are fast disappearing. They sent then to school to learn and to create their own opportunities. Unfortunately, many determined that they were entitled high-paying jobs after completing any number of “soft” degree programs that keep being developed on college campuses. Those who have planned and taken advantage of the opportunities have done well, however.
Millennials need to be patient and work at achieving their dreams. With creativity and effort, they will prosper. As parents of millennials, we have failed them, if we have not taught them to delay gratification, to save for the future, and to have a sensible life plan. With these, stability will come—albeit more slowly than other generations, perhaps.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento.
* http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-lives-compared-to-gen-x-baby-boomers-did-2018-3#millennials-are-shelling-out-more-on-childcare-than-previous-generations-were-7