I’m sitting at a light, scrolling through Instagram. The driver behind me hits the horn. Oops. I did it again. The light has changed, and thanks to my social media scroll, I’ve waited two seconds too long to hit the gas pedal.
It’s not the first time this has happened, and it probably won’t be the last. I don’t use my phone while I’m driving, but sitting at a light for three minutes seems like the perfect opportunity to finish reading that feature article I started the night before, check my email or, yes, catch up on social media.
I’d like to think I’m not addicted to my phone. Maybe it’s more that I’m just always on—not a minute goes by when I don’t crave some kind of mental stimulation.
Or maybe it’s just that I’m a millennial.
Last month, I attended a presentation in Baton Rouge led by Chuck Underwood, a generational researcher and founder of Ohio’s The Generational Imperative, Inc.
His presentation about the five living generations was fascinating. Your formative years mold your core values, according to Underwood. Major national events while you’re growing up, as well as trends in business, government, education and religion, make a huge impact on the adult you become.
So baby boomers, for instance, were raised during major civil rights, women’s rights, war protest and ecology movements. That environment produced a generation of career-driven, empowered, forever-young adults, he says.
Millennials, ages 18-34, were raised on technology.
We don’t have the best reputation. Search for the word “millennial” on The New York Times website and you’ll find articles with titles such as “Millennials, in Their Parents’ Basements,” “Millennials Want Children, But They’re Not Planning on Them,” and my favorite, “Dear Millennials, We’re Sorry.”
Underwood’s presentation, though, painted a picture of millennials who are optimistic and enthusiastic, team-oriented and focused on education.
Some of our problems are real. We are overstressed and overparented, he says. Many millennials struggle with debt from school or job insecurity.
We view Mom and Dad as our best friends, and we involve them in our major life decisions. All of that adds up to some of us living at home and/or delaying marriage and parenting.
But for all the negative press, the best picture I’ve seen of millennials is right here in the 225 office, where our millennial editorial staffers are some of the most creative, hard-working people I’ve met.
What’s more, the even-younger end of our generation looks just as impressive. Our LSU student interns continually blow me away with their inquisitiveness, drive and raw talent.
One of our former interns now freelances for us, and this past semester, she balanced her 225 work with another internship at a different company and still managed to get straight A’s at school.
There was one thing I disagreed with Underwood on, though—he characterized millennials as thinking we know everything.
On Instagram, I follow people in Australia, Peru and Thailand. On Facebook, I click on articles about science and politics.
I can’t put down my phone at the stoplight because I know I don’t know everything and am hungry to learn as much as I can.
Like us or not, millennials are the future. And from what I can see, the future looks bright.
