I went to a great 4-year college, graduated with honors and the highest award in my university. I even interned at one of the best media companies in the world and got into a program considered 10 times harder to get into than Harvard or Yale (sup Kenneth?). Long story short, based on my resume I believe I deserve the world. Most importantly, the world I want*.
I'll be honest, I work with some of the most entitled 20-somethings who do nothing but expand my own personal entitlement. It's almost like an "entitlement think-tank” where we each sprout off our own entitlements collectively, then brainstorm how to implement them in our everyday lives. My entitlement grants me and my millennial-driven nonprofit the absolute audacity to think that we can change the world.
Our entitlement to become "future change-makers" allows us to embody the term sacrifice, and recite the catchy song from Creed. We've provided 50 schools with solar power in a 10-year span while improving students' performance in the classroom by 25%. Our team has done all this for free, as volunteers. Professional volunteers to be exact. We each carry the weight of a 40-hour work week, and for some of us, the burden of student loans. But our entitled views are intertwined with our sacrifices.
Talk-the-talk, walk-the-walk. Signing on to the NGO meant me putting my money where my mouth is, literally. On top of pulling in time for free, you must commit to quarterly dues. By contributing, we each stand on our organization’s mission and motto on serving Ugandans without the promise of accolades. These dues enable the success of our initiatives by covering all overhead fees, resulting in every penny making its way to those we serve.
So, what do we get out of this? For one, we’re not alone in this mindset. 49% of millennials say they want to change the world. Also, going against the grain of numerous posts devoted to millennials, we’re not hippies. We are simply individuals part of a growing goal to change the world. Does this mean that we’re somehow better than the stereotypically, selfie-crazed millennial? Not at all. With the growth of technology these days, one can create, manage, and operate a business from their parent’s basement. Do not judge a book by its cover.
Will we save the world? Eh, that’s still in the making. The good news is that we at least have a chorus of people still trying to get us to Mars.
Regardless of what I say on the matter, it doesn't look like this entitlement will be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, it may be a global epidemic.
And for those who feel my perspective on millennials isn't inclusive, here's an alternative ending. Don't say I don't look out for you.
*= a world without spiders, sugar-free gummy bears and poor Superhero spins off like "Suicide Squad" (their words).