The millennial myth

I might be a millennial.

You know, millennials (yes, I can see you rolling your eyes). We are the generation mainstream media often characterize as the worst group of young people to inhabit Earth since single-cell organisms crawled from a lake bed and grew toes.

In full disclosure, I may also be part of "Generation X" — the Harvard Center's term for those born between 1965 and 1984. I could also be a "xennial," born between 1975-1985.

Regardless, I feel the same sense of hope and dread many of my 30-something friends feel as we're tugged between generational cohorts, wedged between an analog past and a digital future.

Given I reject Justin Bieber as an artist and vividly remember having my first cell phone in college, I'll let you decide where I might fit. To be fair, I have it pretty good. I'm young enough (by looks, anyway) to still get carded at a bar, but I have the added benefit of an advanced degree and years in a professional calling to buffer me from the worst of the millennial criticisms.

On behalf of those who fit squarely within the millennial cohort, however, I'm frustrated we're stuck on the semantics of what to call our just-a-bit-older-than-young adults when we should be trying to create space for them — as each generation should for those who will come after.

I deeply hope for Grand Junction community leaders to do just that, to make room for the newcomers and the fresh ideas. This isn't a call to wipe the slate clean and put the "old timers" out to pasture, but rather an invitation for the establishment to gracefully release the status quo and embrace change.

Perhaps if other generations knew what makes ours tick, we could work together more effectively in our community and the world. Critical perspectives of "millennials these days" may dominate the story line, but my own experiences reveal the myths I hope others can look beyond.

Myth 1: Millennials have no direction.

This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, for the most part, we know exactly where we'd like to end up, but our compass is broken. We want the same life successes and comforts you wanted growing up, but our road is obstructed with new barriers.

Job instability, student loans and higher livings costs make our life trajectories look a bit more like a pinball machine than a well-plotted road trip. We've adapted to the back and forth, but we'd sure appreciate it if the game weren't constantly changing.

Myth 2: Millennials are self-absorbed.

Social media has certainly helped this myth gain an impressive foothold. Now, a quick swipe on a smartphone or tablet seems to show just how into ourselves we 20- and 30-somethings are.

On the contrary, I've found most millennials and those in Generation X are seeking to connect with others who feel a sense of solidarity regarding the uncertainty of our lives.

Much of what happens on social media is indeed superficial engagement meant to alleviate "FOMO" (fear of missing out). But there's increasingly room on these platforms for more meaningful interactions that help us to shore up strength for our peers who are struggling to find their place.

Some of my students at Colorado Mesa University are millennials (although those of traditional college age now are considered Generation Z). The millennials and Gen-Z'ers I teach are mostly inquisitive and outward-focused, despite the number of selfies they take.

Myth 3: Millennials are entitled and need trophies.

I cringe every time I hear this. First, let's clear the air here about what kind of world we're living in: Capitalism, itself, is a system of external rewards amplified into a market economy. For better or worse, we've long lived in a society that demands acknowledgement of success. I haven't observed my cohort to be any different in this aspect.

However, the pendulum may be swinging in the other direction. Many of us are rejecting the external trappings of success that have defined previous generations, such as large houses and the corporate ladder.

Beyond these myths, there's a truth about many millennials I believe many don't quite grasp: our sense of urgency. Like many of my friends, I feel an ever-pressing tug that time is running out to right the world. The flash points of global crises — poverty, climate change, war, equality — are quickly exploding into uncontrollable disasters, and every day I question how I might help mitigate them.

In so many ways, the so-called defining characteristics of our generation have prepared us well for the challenges we face. Our pinball life and career trajectories make us nimble, adaptive and innovative, while our supposed self-absorption means we're likely just narcissistic enough to save the world so we can selfishly continue to enjoy it.

We hope you'll make room for us at the table, despite what you may think you know about our generation. And even if you don't, we promise to keep you updated on the progress we make. You have Instagram, right?

Megan Fromm is an assistant professor at Colorado Mesa University and the educational initiatives director for the Journalism Education Association.

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