Spring Break
Generation Y Receives Unfair Criticism
Issue date: 10/13/05 Section: Commentary
Our generation has gotten itself a bad wrap. "Generation Y," now commonly referred to as "Generation Why?" is the official label those born in the 1980s and onward have invisibly paper-clipped to their young resumes. As if painted in scarlet, "Y" is getting heavier every day.
Generations are demographic markers and are used by sociologists, statisticians and, most of all, by marketing companies. Generation Y is young, but complex and spends a great deal of money, and in so doing, is becoming the newest focus of advertising. Few universal conclusions have been made about Generation Y, and it seems that has our elders worried.
There is no real consensus as to when Generation X ends and when Generation Y begins, and there is no real consensus as to when Generation Y ends and the next generation begins - but almost all current college students are Generation Y.
We grew up being the first generation with the Internet - thus with great opportunity, others expect great responsibility. It seems taking an additional year in school and moving back home with parents is not nearly ambitious enough.
This is all fine criticism at face-worth, but when one bothers to think for just a moment, one would see we aren't nearly the zombie-like creatures many have criticized Y of being.
If post-graduate students could afford to live independently, they most likely would. The fact remains that after receiving a college degree, a document quickly becoming as customary as a high school diploma, and few members of the Internet generation have funds to move anywhere other than where they're taken in. It is, at the very least, a smart financial decision to live with one's family.
The majority of college students are graduating on time, but many Generation Y'ers are staying in school an extra semester, some an entire extra year. Such action can certainly be seen as laziness and has been linked to a refusal to grow up - but this is not a new issue. Nearly since the start of collegiate education in America, students have been staying longer than anticipated. Such a trend should make one ask oneself, "What's wrong with taking time?"
Generation Y exists, breathes and works, not so different from the rest of humanity. We've simply been the first generation to be desensitized by life's evils and secrets at a young age, before entering the real world, as seen through a computer screen. Generation Y is not doomed - safe as we can somehow, someday manage to find jobs. Until such a day arises, there are few reasons to leave school or grow up, other than to explore the world, but gas is too expensive.
Generations are demographic markers and are used by sociologists, statisticians and, most of all, by marketing companies. Generation Y is young, but complex and spends a great deal of money, and in so doing, is becoming the newest focus of advertising. Few universal conclusions have been made about Generation Y, and it seems that has our elders worried.
There is no real consensus as to when Generation X ends and when Generation Y begins, and there is no real consensus as to when Generation Y ends and the next generation begins - but almost all current college students are Generation Y.
We grew up being the first generation with the Internet - thus with great opportunity, others expect great responsibility. It seems taking an additional year in school and moving back home with parents is not nearly ambitious enough.
This is all fine criticism at face-worth, but when one bothers to think for just a moment, one would see we aren't nearly the zombie-like creatures many have criticized Y of being.
If post-graduate students could afford to live independently, they most likely would. The fact remains that after receiving a college degree, a document quickly becoming as customary as a high school diploma, and few members of the Internet generation have funds to move anywhere other than where they're taken in. It is, at the very least, a smart financial decision to live with one's family.
The majority of college students are graduating on time, but many Generation Y'ers are staying in school an extra semester, some an entire extra year. Such action can certainly be seen as laziness and has been linked to a refusal to grow up - but this is not a new issue. Nearly since the start of collegiate education in America, students have been staying longer than anticipated. Such a trend should make one ask oneself, "What's wrong with taking time?"
Generation Y exists, breathes and works, not so different from the rest of humanity. We've simply been the first generation to be desensitized by life's evils and secrets at a young age, before entering the real world, as seen through a computer screen. Generation Y is not doomed - safe as we can somehow, someday manage to find jobs. Until such a day arises, there are few reasons to leave school or grow up, other than to explore the world, but gas is too expensive.