Calling all Millennials

Generation Y has earned a bad rep and for a good reason. “If it ain't broke can I still get an upgrade?” is the mentality of a millennial.

We’re quick to dispose of, lack patience, tenacity, and discipline. In the same vein, we’re fast. We know we’re not smarter than previous generations, we’re just smart enough to know where to look. The rate at which we consume technology has accelerated, and we have adapted.

I understand when people have qualms against my generation (yes, I’m taking ownership, if that means being part of the likes of the future Google, Facebook and Tesla founders, we are one). But we’re smarter than you give us credit. As a millennial, being smart does not connote to know it all. Intelligence in the 21st century is the ability to recognize what you need to learn, and the tenacity to master it. We’re hustlers. We may be the first to throw in the towel, but we’re also quick to bounce back. We see inhibition as an opportunity to conquer.

Millennials aim to engage and create meaningful memories. Why do you think we love social media? To share great content. It is so satisfying to receive a ROFL emoji, and know you made someone’s quarterly social media break. We invest in what matters, food, experiences, friends, and food.

Some have flak against us for being selfish; they say we're too cozy at home and we enjoy our single days too much. I have no rebuttal. Living at home is just too cushy, plus no one makes schnitzel like mum.

Millennials are pioneering a “sharing economy” meaning, instead of making big purchases, such as a car, we are content with renting big-ticket items. Some would argue that this is because we don’t see the value in stability and ownership, but I think we do. We recognize the importance of living life to its fullest.

In the movie The Intern, starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, the generation gap was depicted very well. Anne (a millennial, startup founder) portrayed a young, driven individual who recognized an opportunity to fulfill a niche in the e-commerce system and decided to act on it. Robert De Niro delivers old-world charm. He is punctual, inquisitive, and resourceful. The takeaway is that they both respect and learn from the other.

Never has the word startup been such a “thing.” Everyone is busy with a #sidehustle. You know what? We may be the first to fall, but at least we're not afraid to try. We accredit this ambition to our predecessor generations, who have tucked us into bed with dreams of “if I could go back in time, I would’ve” ...you’ve instilled in us inertia, a drive to thrive. To grab challenges by the bullhorns and to shun complacency.

My grandmother recently asked me to “tell her something good,” right away my friends came to mind. My peers are ambitious, eager to grow and fast to learn. They challenge the status quo, and I’m forever trying to keep up with them. This is how I depict today’s generation. My advice to anyone who criticizes a millennial? Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.