The other day, I came across an article that claimed that Miley Cyrus twerking at the MTV VMA’s was simply a reflection of our generation.  The article entertained the notion that we, the millennials, are characterized by vulgar behavior and narcissism. We’re all about ‘Me’, ‘Me’, and ‘Me’; we’re self-absorbed creatures that so desperately seek the approval of others. The author, however, was not alone in her opinion of our generation.  Some people say that our generation is apathetic towards any cause. Instead of marching in Washington and fighting for what we believe in, we Tweet it. Instead of sending letters to our congressmen for change, we blame them on our Facebook walls.  They call us spoiled and lazy, claiming that we are not taking advantage of the resources that we have available. “If I had your resources, I would have done so much better,” they reproach.  Generation Y, I believe that there is so much more that defines us than these isolated incidents.

We the millennials are more open-minded towards change than other generations.  Instead of upholding the ideas and morals of previous generations, we have etched our own standards. We are changing the definition of what is right and what is wrong.  For the first time, the United States is becoming more accepting of the LGBT community. In fact, a study from the PEW Research Center found that 74% of millennials, compared to 49% in Generation X (1965-1980), believe that gays and lesbians should be accepted. Media has already shown signs of embracing the community.  During the 2014 Grammy’s, Rapper Macklemore, joined by Pop stars Madonna and Queen Latifah, officiated the marriage of 33 couples, both homosexual and heterosexual. This victory comes after long years of battles, when homosexuality was considered a “disease” and “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” dictated military policy.  The Disney Channel has introduced a lesbian couple on the show “Good Luck Charlie”.  In the 1970s, simply discussing the ideas of the LGBT community in school would lead to disciplinary action.

We the millennials are a generation of ideas.  Our generation ardently supports ideas that will change the future. Websites like Kickstarter reflect our hunger for innovation. We have made social media, Facebook, Twitter, and Google, popular methods of communications. Using that motion, we have integrated coding and technology into our lifestyle. We are helping high school students all across the world code through websites such as Code Academy.  Unlike other generations, we welcome change and accept it. Realizing that change is inevitable, we shape change in our favor to help benefit mankind.

We the millennials are a generation of Education. Never before has education been available to us in such proportions. Khan Academy and Coursera have revolutionized the traditional education system.  We have the option to study other courses that may not be presented in school due to funding. With courses such as Number Theory and Information Security on-line, students have a breadth of information accessible to them. Don’t understand that biology lecture? That’s all right! Watch a video on Khan Academy about the Krebs Cycle. Our education allows us to be more health conscious. We believe in the use of contraceptives and investment in HIV research.  Instead of shunning them, we recognize people’s individual liberties and do not tie them with religious affiliations.  Research found that 77% of all millennials believe that contraceptives should be available to students over the age of 16.

Disparaging the next generation seems to be a perpetual act. New generations embrace and create their own ideals and standards, own technologies, and their own culture. The age gap seems to create a continuous cycle of criticism and suspicion towards youth. Are we different from our parents’ generation? If we compare innovations and values, yes we are. However, they too were once in a position in which they were deemed as ‘the worst generation’ to be a part of.