“I don’t understand kids these days”, “Why do they do that”, “How can I connect with these kids?”. These are some statements that I have heard in relation to Generation Yers. This essay will help explain Generation Y and how we as outdoor educators can manage this groups way of life.
Generation Yers were born between the second half of the 1970s and the first half of the 1990s. Other terms that have been used for Gen Y are Echo Boomers, Millennium Generation, iGeneration, Einstein Generation, Google Generation, Generation Next, and a few others. It is made up of around 73 million individuals which is about three times the size of Generation X, and has been described as Generation X on steroids. Just looking at the terms that have been used for Generation Y shows a little of what they are about. Generation Yers are the most technological advanced generation in our history, with the introduction of ipods, internet, social media, dvds, facebook, cell phones, etc. They use and rely on technology in almost every part of their daily lives and as a result of this they are masters of multitasking. They use it to research, communicate with their friends, look for jobs and undertake courses.
Books to Generation Y are something that they don’t use much at all, but that is because they get their information online, they read more blogs than any other generation, they receive news from sources online rather than a news paper and instead of reading a hard copy book they will invest in an eBook. Tho having said that Generation Yers are the leading users of libraries to help them solve problems, as well as using it as a meting place. They may have disregarded some of the old technology, but that is only because they have found a new way to do the same thing, Gen Yers love to adopt new technology but will only use it if it will help them or their peers, they wont just use it coz it is technology.
Gen Yers will have hundreds of friends who are part of their online social networks, but they still deeply cherish family connections and the people close to them, more than any thing else. They are the most socially conscious Generation that has existed so far. For example when Gen Yers enter a college/university peers among Gen Y are more than willing to go out of their way to help incoming students. Groups are set up on Facebook and Myspace to help new students get to and from supermarkets. Web addresses are shared for students to find out the campus ratings of their professors. There are also tutoring sessions done online and offline by Juniors and Senior students rather than the university or college itself.. As well as being close to family and friends Generation Yers grew up engaged in group activities, from “mummy and me “ play activities to school team sports, and as a result of this Gen Yers value teamwork and strive to include all members on their team. They also embrace diversity as Generation Y is the most multicultural group in our history. This is a result of growing up with parents that may have been of different races and ages.
Work to live rather than live to work, is what this generation is all about. Having grown up getting endless positive feedback Gen Yers tend to be extremely confident and some would say overconfident. As a result of getting constant positive feedback they crave feedback at work as well just in the same way that their text messages to friends are answered in seconds and their post and statuses on Facebook are quickly “liked” and commented on. They usually enter work with very high expectations for both themselves and their employer, and as a result of this they usually have plans to effect change at their workplace from day one. The outcome of the “work to live rather than live to work” motto is that they have much higher salary expectations than what any entry level job can offer, but this has been tempered by the Great Recession.
As most of Gen Y are the offspring of the Baby Boomers they have seen their parents lose money in the dot-com bust, layoffs, and other situations because of this they are extremely financial savvy. A Survey conducted by Diversified Investment Advisors of Purchase, showed that 37 percent of Gen Yers expect and do start saving for retirement before they are 25, and 49 percent said that retirement benefits are very important when looking for and accepting employment.
Rallies, protests, and group meetings are still important to Gen Yers but they find it easier to start a movement with a Facebook group and then let the masses join in that way. These groups are not being ignored either, money is donated daily if not hourly, boycotts are being arranged faster, and news is spreading faster.
As an outdoor educator Generation Yers can sometimes come across confusing & lazy. They seek constant gratification, and this is because of the way that they have been brought up. To help us manage a group of Generation Yers we need to make sure that at the start of the program that we inform them on what is needed of them and the expectations for the duration of the program. Also as educators need to make sure that we do give them feedback all the time, even if it is for the smallest thing like they said thank you when you gave them something, because that is the way that they are “wired”, if you help them they will help you tenfold. To help with Generation Y it is good to have the program focused on communities and teamwork because they will respond massively in a positive way to this because they value this above about all else. Also if problems arise they need to work thru them as a group rather than an individual because they will learn a lot more off each other in a group than if they were to do it by them selves.
JFK once said that “We have the power to make the best generation in history or to make it the last.” and from what Generation Y has shown e.g they “Work to live rather than live to work”, they are financially savvy, embrace the new but don’t forget about the old, I think it is safe to say we have raised one of the best generation so far.
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thanks for reading guys
cheers
schilzy
Great write up Ben. Really helped me to understand Gen Y, and appreciate them more. Thanks mate.
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