Generation Y:’ it’s all about me
Lisa Kane
The current student generation, aged anywhere from 18-35, is known as “Gen Y”, or “Gen Next,” and is also the current generation set to power the country as CEOs, homeowners, business men and women or even mayors and governors.
These are just some of the positions the current student generation will command, but think of these prestigious positions being held by the person who can’t seem to stop texting on their cell phone during a lecture, or the person who always brings up text message shorthand in a personally direct conversation.
These days, students sit in class with their hands underneath the desk fiddling with their cell phone or some other gadget, half listening to a lecture and half involved in a conversation via text message.
Students attend their class, do homework and test efficiently, but they are effectively half learning.
What is most important to Gen Y?
“Toys,” said Mesa Community College student Brent Poulos.
Technology, cars and clothes are too important to the Millennial Generation. In fact, it’s not just about the actual object, it has to be a brand name too.
“The most important thing to nearly everyone in our generation is their cell phone. People are constantly on their cell phones,” Poulos said. “Everybody wants to have the latest and greatest mode of communication, but ironically, cell phones curb actual human interaction.”
Scattered in groups around the MCC campus, students are awaiting their classes, tinkering with their gadgets and not saying a word to the people around them.
“My cell phone is a nervous habit for me,” said student Brittany Montague. “I don’t know anyone around me, so I take out my cell phone and text someone I do know.”
This cell phone comfort zone is a new issue for the current generation. It breeds self-consciousness in reality, and the future dims without honest communication.
MCC and other college graduates will soon have no interviews for not just jobs, but careers too.
Texting during meetings (like a lecture), or having an iPod in one ear are unsatisfactory behaviors that will occur during the lifetime of their careers if these habits don’t change.
Overly concerned with their social appearance, many employers could complain that the Millennial Generation lacks loyalty and humility.
Important topics like politics, economics or society’s woes are not as important as what is displayed on their Facebook page.
Technology does most of the legwork in our schools and students just put it to paper. There seems to be a pattern with technology; the more there is, the less involved we become.
When USA Today conducted a survey in January of 2007, Gen Y’s goal was boasted as “wealth and fame.”
The poll showed that 81 percent of the 18-25 year olds surveyed cited wealth as at least the second most important goal in their life, and 51 percent said the same of being famous.
“Everyone is focused on themselves,” said student Nathan Vaughn.
The desire for quantity and not quality has taken over the current generation. In response, Vaughn gave his words of wisdom.
“Somehow when we’re close in this world we seem to be furthest apart.
