Generation Me.

**I will be out of the country 3/9-3/16 without computer access! Will get to any e-mails when I'm back :)

Generation Y. Generation Me. The Generation of Opportunity. Okay, time to play devil's advocate and rag on my own era for a minute. Growing up, whether you won or lost, you always received a trophy, right? Raised as self-entitled, whiners spoiled by mommy and daddy, we as millenials have been destroyed by this mentality, becoming lazy, self-righteous, and unmotivated. This undoubtedly comes from a society obsessed with boosting self-esteem. It's pathetic, really.

Deemed as tech-savvy, our lives seem to revolve around the internet, feeling the constant need to be plugged-in 24/7, with everything right at our fingertips. If we don't have access to technology for more than a few hours, it's like watching a crack addict having withdrawals. I witnessed my 12 year old cousin freak out at the lack of cell reception on our 48-hour family get-away, and it's getting younger and younger. My 2 year old cousin gets frustrated when he isn't given an iPad to entertain him and thinks he should be able to move his fingers across any computer screen because of his early exposure to touch-screens. Really? I mean cell phones weren't even around when I was born!

 Each of our identities has been artificially formed by texting and Facebook, rather than face-to-face contact, giving the world the ability to be constantly informed to every minute detail of our lives. We believe everyone wants to hear every little thing we think, do, and see at any given moment, so our stream of consciousness is on display. We have become masters of self-promotion, even before we have developed a real sense-of-self.

In a culture where 6-figure sweet-16 parties, obsessive tanning packages, and plastic surgery for graduation presents, all in the name of "self esteem," are the norm, it's no wonder we have become self-entitled brats. Failing to understand why professors won't let us make up an exam we were too hung over to take, feeling it's a "right" we've earned, is ridiculous.      

Instead of just one student of the month, schools name dozens. In an attempt to protect us from failure teachers handed out gold stars to everyone, graded on a curve, and refused to correct papers in red ink. This celebration of mediocrity has done us no good. Kids don't develop the resiliency necessary for the day when mommy isn't there to fix their problems anymore. It's gonna be on you when you end up on the streets or in jail. The refusal to take responsibility for mistakes, like inherently expecting your parents to foot the bill for that speeding ticket.  If you give your kid what they want its all honky dory. If not, they'll sulk until they get their way. 

 Us millenials tend to be confident and ambitious, unafraid to seek out new challenges. With no fear to question authority or challenge the status quo, we'll walk into job interviews expecting big salaries and an office overlooking the city. When we don't get exactly that, we move back in with our parents, writing it off as failure, and giving up on life altogether. 

Can our egos get any huger? Optimistic that life will work out for us without lifting a finger, is more than just confidence, it's over-confidence. I have watched this situation play out in many of my siblings, and have managed to escape it myself. Quit telling your kids "You can be whatever you want to be." If they don't get up off their butts, they won't. You have to be willing to have your kids not like you, to help them in the long run. If it's gonna help overcome a drug addiction, it's going to be worth it, right?

What we have to realize is that it is discontent that motivates action and change. If what he's doing (sitting at home, jobless, abusing drugs), with everything handed to him, is working out just fine, what's the motivation for change? There is none. If you keep shielding him from the real world, he will never have coping skills for dealing with adversity as a mature adult.  When he's finally thrust out into the real world, having to set his own priorities, pay his own bills, and take care of himself, its gonna be a harsh reality to handle, that's for sure.

Now it's your turn to weigh in. Do you agree or disagree with me on this issue? Come on now, don't be shy :)