Righter 1

Steven Righter

English 101

Paula Boyd

19 February 2017

Millennials: Unprepared and Entitled, or Simply Misunderstood? Revised

All generations face challenges, some shared with other generations, and some just within

their generation. Webster defines a Millennial as a person born in the 1980s or 1990s, while

some sources expand on the age ranges a few years in both directions. Expanded either way, I

would still be considered a Millennial. After interviewing people of various ages, some fellow

Millennials, some from Generation X and some from the Baby Boomer generation, they

provided some insight into how my generation is seen and often judged by others. While some

believe that Millennials are overall lazy, self-entitled, and unmotivated, I believe that they are

presented with different challenges than previous generations. The widespread use of social

media, the increased pressure to obtain a college degree, and the perceived sense of entitlement

that many feel that Millennials exhibit, among others are a few of the differences that separate

the generations. Along with easy access to research and resources, there are more requirements

and expectations to be successful, especially because success is primarily defined by ones

income.

I interviewed seven different people and asked the same seven questions to each

participant; including asking them to explain and elaborate on their answers. The age range of
 Righter 2

my participants spanned from twenty-years-old to seventy. Three of those who responded would

be considered Millennials, three are from Generation X, and one is a Baby Boomer. I learned that

the majority of the older the people thought perceived less positivity about the Millennial

generation, though one Millennial did agree that many in this generation have a sense of

entitlement. The increase in social media and technology appeared to be a common theme in

both the support of Millennial laziness and in the explaining the different challenges faced. Lissa

Skocy, a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, is a part of Generation X. She stated, social

media pressures are part of technology playing a bigger role in our lives. While Rachel St. John,

a student at the University of Illinois and a Millennial, said one thing that has definitely

changed is the technological advances we have made in the last few years. This changes

everything about our generation. Business is performed differently, social structure has changed,

information being presented differently today than it ever has, and I think it makes Millennials a

lot different than other generations. Kaitlynn Holsapple, a sophomore at Missouri State

University and another Millennial, agreed with Rachel about the many changes coming about

due to technology and social media. Both saw these changes as positive, but also as presenting

additional problems. On the other hand, Laurie Holsapple, a preschool teacher and a member of

Generation X, feels more strongly that the increase in social media adds additional pressure to

Millennials, while also making it much more difficult for them to develop people and

communication skills. Those who mentioned social media appear to agree that it has presents

both challenges and benefits. An example of a possible challenge that my generation could face

due to the increase in social media is the inability, or at the very least the difficulty, of learning to

read non-written and non-verbal language. When a large majority of communication is made

through social media and texting, the individual does not learn to interpret body language. They
 Righter 3

do not understand tone or inflection of the voice of the spoken word. I have witnessed young

Millennials who are unable to call and make their own doctor appointments because they are not

used to talking on the phone. A benefit I have experienced from social media is the ability to

quickly connect with people from all over the globe. Social media applications also make it easy

to connect with people who have similar interests, motivations, and personalities. Which in turn

can present opportunities for not only friendships, but also employment and growth in

professional areas. Additionally, I have friends in the Millennial age group who are pursuing

careers in fields involving people interaction, such as media, teaching, and coaching.

Another overall theme I observed from interviewing people from various generations,

was the pressure that Millennials face to obtain a college education and earn large salaries.

College prices continue to rise, and the potential earnings of an individual without any college

education does not appear favorable. I know several Millennials, and even some individuals of

Generation X, who are still paying off college loans. I remember my mom telling me about a

study that found that some of the more expensive colleges and universities result in student loans

so high that the starting salaries of entry level positions did not allow individuals to pay them off

for decades. Rita Righter, a Baby Boomer, responded I have observed Millennials that finish

college expecting to step into a job that pays what their mom or dad are getting paid after

working for 25 years. Similarly, she also reported that she has observed Millennials believing

that they can buy and pay for a home equal to what their parents have worked for 25 years.

Rachel agreed and added that many expect Millennials to take advantage of college opportunities

and to be successful immediately. Katie believes that this generation has been pushed or directed

towards college from a young age, recalling being asked frequently what she wanted to be when
 Righter 4

she grew up. Similarly, I remember not being asked IF I wanted to go to college, but instead

WHERE I would go, with the understanding that it was not an option.

One professed pressure that appeared to have more controversy amongst those

interviewed was that of entitlement. Entitlement is a word I have heard often that define my

generation. One Millennial I interviewed, Suzanne Black, a senior at Eastern Illinois University,

agreed with Rita about many Millennials feeling a sense of entitlement and, in her words, they

feel like they deserve things. After being questioned whether millennials are more or less

prepared for the work force she responded with saying less prepared. Adding I feel like it makes

them less prepared, because if they feel they are entitled to things they may not feel they need to

put in the extra work to earn or really deserve positions. Mark Nelson, a member of Generation

X, disputed this by saying, older generations have both created most of the problems

Millennials face and shifted the blame for those problems inappropriately on to Millennials. An

example he provided was that Millennials have a lack of safe environments in which to make

mistakes and learn responsibility. If the older generations claim to be more understanding of

mistakes made, it does not make sense that they are finding fault with Millennials when they do

not seem to know how to fail and pick themselves back up again. Additionally, he had an

interesting response to the question Do you feel these pressures make Millennials more or less

prepared for the work force? Nelson stated Similarly prepared. The difference, if any, is one of

perception, and it comes from our expectations that somehow Millennials will enter the

workforce with skills that we have not yet taught them; skills which we learned ourselves after

beginning to work. Laurie feels that the pressures are not so much a sense of entitlement as they

are pressure to be successful in every area of life; all the time. She provided examples of

pressures to have the perfect body, grades, cars, and clothes. While I understand the differing
 Righter 5

views, I do believe that many people of my own generation have a sense of entitlement. I

struggle to identify myself in this category in some circumstances. My mom has described it as

having a steak taste on a hamburger budget. I enjoy having nice things, but I also do not mind

working hard for something I enjoy.

Interviewing people of various age groups provided various opinions of what is

considered right and wrong with todays Millennials. I do not believe that there is only one

explanation of why Millennials are considered all good or all bad, but instead I agree that

they are presented with different challenges and problems than previous generations. Along with

different challenges come different solutions. Overall, I feel that my generation is prepared to

make a positive impact and create changes for the betterment of the world. We just need to be

given the opportunity to be understood, and to make effective use of the advances we have been

presented.

I honor Parklands core values by affirming that I have followed all academic integrity

guidelines for this work.