“Yes, I’m a Millennial. So what?”

I've begun to lose track of how many times "my generation" has been labeled as "millennials."   It's a fairly generic word in the English vocabulary meant to classify those born between 1981-2001, or at least it used to be.  Today it is grouped with certain characteristics.  According to businessdictionary.com, millennials are “more likely to lean liberal in their political ideology, less likely to practice religion than previous generations, and grew up in the age of technology and therefore are very versed in technology.”  This makes sense to a degree, given the changing technological and political landscapes.

Our parents didn’t grow up with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  They didn’t interact through a screen with people on a daily basis whom they might never actually meet in person. They also grew up in a time period where it was not yet possible to elect an African American president or believe that a woman could run for office.  Does that somehow make them naïve or close-minded?  No, it doesn’t because climates change.  Labels change.  Even laws change.  So why then did the term “millennial” become so negative?  When did it become associated with laziness and entitlement?  

We are the age of social media, glued to our phones 24/7 as some would say, lost in our own self-absorption to not care about what’s going on in the real world.  We’re more likely to be sipping lattes at a coffee house then reading a book.  Or are we? 

Our generation is also more likely to have student loan debt and not be working in the career we thought we’d be in after earning our college degrees.  I will probably be 82 before I finish paying off my loans but that’s how it is.  It doesn’t make me entitled.  It has opened my eyes to the realization that I must continue to find new ways of creating and defining myself.

Who created these stereotypes?  Society.  You know what I have to say to society?  Look at me.  I worked my butt off to get to where I am today.  I didn’t get that “dream job” out of college, but I did get a job and worked my way up, all the while realizing that my job will never define me.

Labels come in all shapes and sizes, but what really matters is how you choose to define yourself.  I may not be perfect, or have all the answers to whatever life throws in my direction but my path is not yet clearly defined.  And that’s the way I like it.  I’m thankful for the experiences that I’ve gone through (and believe me, there have been my fair share of crappy ones) but one thing I am not is someone who will be put down by what others perceive me to be. 

Yes I love my Starbucks, I probably couldn’t go a day without reaching for my phone, but so what?  I’m still learning that inspiration comes in many ways, some days are better than others, and I have yet to discover the meaning of life.  But one day I’ll be sitting in my rocker blasting Backstreet Boys, or maybe watching Apollo 13 for the zillionth time, going, “I got it right.”  I didn’t change myself to conform to what other people wanted me to be.  I was myself.  

So the next time someone rolls their eyes at you and says, “Oh, you’re such a millennial,” fire back and say, “Why, yes I am,” with your head held high as you sip from your fat free, sugar free, caramel macchiato.  

13 Reasons Why Girlboss Will Become Your New Favorite Show

1.  “Love you in case I die.”  Every best friend should have a catchphrase or at least their own hashtag, to not only make others jealous that your friendship will stand the test of time, but also because it just sounds cool.  #rockets

2.  “Know what your shit’s worth cause you just got played.”  This pivotal scene not only sets up the storyline, it is advice that can be applied to everything in life.  Value yourself and your intuition.

3.  Sophia is the definition of female empowerment.  Her matter-of-fact, tell it like it is blunt attitude about life, guys, and everything in between makes her the best friend we always wished we had, and secretly the woman we are all dying to be.  She doesn’t seek approval from others, she doesn’t apologize for who she is, and she never backs down from a challenge.  Hell, we could all take a lesson from her and we should.

4.  Sophia’s witty sarcasm and unpredictable outbursts are what make her so fun, poignant, and relatable.  Hence, “What kind of monster leaves a voicemail?”  I mean, really, can anyone in this century not relate to that comment?

5.   Shane, Sophia’s adorable drool-worthy boyfriend doesn’t allow Sophia to self-sabotage their relationship even when she’s screaming in his face.  Anyone else get “Friends” vibes when he got upset over Sophia eating his French fries?  We’ve all hit rock bottom in some way and wished our significant other wasn’t there to witness it- but there’s something strangely gratifying about watching a grown woman drenched head-to-toe from the rain, holding a bag of a dead woman’s clothing while she asks if there’s something better out there.  Because hey, this is a life-altering 20s something moment, no?  

6.  Sophia is forced to stay at a job she hates so she can get health insurance.  Who can’t relate to reaching for a jar of peanut butter and getting a hernia?

7.  The flashback of how Sophia and Annie became friends prove that all the best relationships come out of a jail cell, or they do on tv at least.  Annie’s ability to see beyond Sophia’s dark makeup and rocker garb was the beginning of something special.

8.  Sophia’s note to her boss Rick: “Thank you for being my favorite boss and my last boss.” It was here that Sophia truly encompassed, “Do what you love.”  Not everyone is meant for the corporate life.  Some are meant to shine as entrepreneurs.

9. The wedding dress episode:  Sophia’s brush with an almost bad review provided comic relief for a perfectly executed episode.  Anyone who has worked retail knows that a bad review can end you and I couldn’t help but laugh at the lengths Sophia goes to ensure that doesn’t happen, including listening to the bride drone on about checking her garments for flaws that were put there by the buyer herself.  Diet Coke anyone?

10.  Nathan and his mom:  They dance, drink wine, and eat ice-cream while singing along to Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.”  They may be cooky, but they are quite the pair.

11. Self-realization moment: Sophia visits her mom only to discover that she has become her, or at least a version of her.  Finally, Sophia has a reason for why she’s so screwed up.  But she also finds it as a reason to finally become an adult.  While this self-defining moment varies from person to person, there’s no doubt we’ve all been there.

12. Scratch everything I said in #5.  Shane is a __.  (Feel free to fill that in with whatever obscenity you like.)  Shane succumbs to the typical stereotypical cheating male and while many can sympathize with Sophia’s pain, her choice of words in telling him just how much of a loser he is takes the cake as one of the best all time breakups on television EVER.

13.  Whatever that weird art exhibit thing is that Nathan creates...  Just trust me, you’ll love it.

To summarize, it’s no fun getting to the top said no one ever.  But it is no fun getting there alone.  In 13 episodes you see Sophia’s up and downs, her meltdowns and her makeups.  But her kickass vision became a reality and that is inspiring.  Girl power!