Archive for millennial
September Eleventh: From a Twenty Something
Posted by: | CommentsI was on a panel a few weeks ago discussing millenials in the workplace. How we think, how we work, and how we are changing things. Leading the panel was a millennial expert. A seriously brilliant woman who knows more about my generation than I do. And I am living it.
She talked about historical events that have shaped my generation. She talked about September Eleventh, the first time in centuries that Americans were attacked on American soil. She talked about what my generation grew up in and what shaped us. The uncertainty. The lack of security.
Let me be honest when I say that up until that point I had really never considered the way in which September Eleventh shaped me. I was fourteen when it happened. I was on my way to the doctor to get stitches when I heard the news. I kind of shrugged my shoulders and moved on. Sure, I watched CNN like everyone else. Sure, we talked about it in school for days but I really didn’t get it.
I didn’t get it because at fourteen and it was all I had ever known.
I hadn’t known a time when buildings weren’t getting blown up (Oklahoma Bombing). When schools weren’t being attacked (Columbine). And when buildings weren’t getting planes flown in to them. I am sure that had I lived in or near New York the event would have felt very differently. But I didn’t. And it wasn’t close to me. And I viewed it as I had every other tragic event in history.
Yet, I sincerly wanted to feel more. I felt guilty for not crying. I felt naive for not knowing what these buildings were or even being able to define terrorism. Or even caring to look it up.
But, I was fourteen and in my mind violence was violence. Destruction was destruction. This stuff happens.
As I remember September Eleventh I don’t remember being overcome with emotion. I remember feeling guilty for not feeling much emotion.
As I move forward from September Eleventh I hope. I pray. I believe. That the next generation can and should be raised in a country where violent acts don’t just happen. Where tragic events aren’t commonplace. A country where they can feel things in the true nature of feeling. That they can understand the value of life. And that as a country we can provide them with this.
That is what I am thinking about today.
The Y Generation
Posted by: | CommentsI remember sitting in class listening to a professor ramble about generations. How each generation is different. Marketing to each generation is different. They have different needs. They have different desires. They enjoy different things. I understood what she was saying but I really didn’t care. It seemed common sense to me. My mother cares about different things than I do. The things I care about will one day appall my son. Each generation is brought up in a totally different world. We are exposed to different music, different political figures, different leaders, different rules. Of course we are going to turn out differently.
I never really saw how this could help me in the job force. I didn’t see how being a millennial was going to be beneficial to my employer. It wasn’t until I read this article about generation Y and what we bring to the workplace. The ability to multi-task and see things in a different light. Tonight I came across this blog post about the millenial generation. I have had to explain, train, and beg friends to get on Twitter. After joining many became bored. Why one hundred and fourty characters? Why do people care what I am doing? Where I am going? There are so many great points in that post I encourage you to read it.
More to come on this topic. Promise
p.s. This is one of the many reasons I am ecstatic about working for Jennifer Brown Consulting!
