dear generation y.

Dear Generation Y,

I've been reading a lot about you. And I can sympathize with you because I'm right along with you. People call you names, Generation Me, Generation Whatever, the Why-Worry Generation. Don't let it get to you. You're great and you'll do great things! You're known to be "optimistic, idealistic and [are] destined to do good." And... its because of words like these that you've turned out the way you have. Remember Mr. Rogers? You're special.

You'll do great things alright. Because the kids behind you. They're going to have a harder time finding reality as they're born in to a virtual world. You're it. The last of its kind to remember the glimpse of a day with no computers. The road trips with paper maps. The generation ahead of you will get over the fact that you're becoming their bosses with your degrees and high expectations of success.

So why are you known to be "more confident, assertive, entitled-and more miserable than ever before?" Thats just it. You have high expectations. You've been told you can do whatever you want, be whoever you want, as long as you put your mind to it and work hard. And what happens? Well, you either thrive off of your self centered mode of self fulfillment, or you negate all horizons of significance because you have been told to make your own identity, a name for yourself. And they expect you to do a good job at it, to be what you're parents never got the chance to be. The first leads to disengagement in the wold revolving around yourself. The later, which seems to occur more often than not, leads to fragmentation, the disintegration, collapse, or breakdown of norms of thought, behavior, or social relationships.

Check out Nirvana. Kicking of the true feelings of the generation. Fragmented life. Unfulfilled even in his fame: "I found it hard, it's hard to find. Oh well, whatever, nevermind..." Lincoln Park? "I'm tired of being what you want me to be... I don't know what you're expecting of me. Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes."

This brings up even more thoughts of what we expect: everything to be catered to our needs. "Here we are now, entertain us," Nirvana screams. Entertained with the most advancement of technology in all of time. Yet we're still not satisfied with the lag of a touch screen. If we can imagine it, someone is going to make it. We're multi-taskers because of it. We can't help but sit in class on our computers, taking notes, browse facebook, and text our roommates the whole time. We're no longer satisfied by sitting down with a good book unless its on a screen, hopefully with pictures! Here's Arcade Fire with the Grammy:

"A suburban war
your part of town against mine
I saw you standing on the opposite shore

But by the time the first bombs fell
We were already bored..

We were already...

...already bored"

...

What can I tell you but not to give up? I know that the lack of direction, over lavished encouragement seem, and constant entertainment has been deeply embedded into your system. But what else can you do but embrace it and move on? This is who you are. You've seen it all. The good, the bad, the corrupt. And you've got to make the most out of what you're given. You're flexible. You can multi-task. You care about the cause and want a life outside of work. It might take some adjustments, but the world is going to be a better place because of you. I believe in you.


...Don't mess it up.



<3