Months ago, I was concerned about the underlying motivation behind the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. Additionally, I’m disappointed by the popularity of the Jersey Shore and how strong its influence was when I visited my alma mater this year. Game Day was once a day of storied traditions, dressing up for your family and alumni visiting. Everybody having a good time, sometimes getting a little rowdy, but coming together to represent something bigger than ourselves, and for that, we aimed to be on our best.
For goodness sake, Gainesville is home of the brightest class of Gators ever! “The fall 2010 incoming freshman class had an average 4.3 GPA and 1945 SAT score. UF admitted 1,315 International Baccalaureate students — more than any other university in the U.S. — in fall 2010.” Yet, as I walked through a frat house this past weekend, looking to meet up with one of my closest friends in school, I was appalled at the hoochies and guidos. Theme party? Not on Game Day. And what’s worse — the place was crawling with parents, alumni and families.
So, after 50+ years of tradition, what would lead these young people to completely abandoning all sense of decorum?
I tried to make sense of these trends that were seemingly alarming to me – all I could think about was that these movements are born out of fear.
My generation was raised to KNOW that we are the smartest and the best and the prettiest. Momma calls it the Gold Star Generation. They’re not protesting how things have worked out or what exactly was the point of wrong-doing. They protest, because they didn’t get what was promised to them. College, eventual management (even C-suite) role and a McMansion – that was a certainty. We grew up a risk-averse generation now facing an uncertain future. It’s not that other people shouldn’t have success, the whole thing just doesn’t seem … fair.
NERD ALERT: History example: Mary of Scots. She’s born, the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and rightful heir to the English throne. Through no fault of her own, what she has been raised to consider “hers” is given to another, Elizabeth. Is it a surprise that she challenges and threatens and disrupts Elizabeth’s rule? Certainly not. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Elizabeth is Queen, and Mary is just some ubiquitous aristocrat through no wrong-doing of her own and must find another purpose for her life if it is not meant to sit on the throne.
With no one ahead to set our goals, tell us what will be acceptable in terms of lifestyle, what will make us happy — what should we do?
Even flawed ideologies, ill-conceived and incomplete seem better than no ideologies. The Jersey Shore represents freedom, sorta. They do what they want, they have fun, they’re celebrities. By simply being honest about who they are (no matter how dumb or parasitic), their whims are provided for and people seem to love them. Live to party, get it done with GTL.
Similarly, Occupy Wall Street had vague, unclear mission. They are the 99%? They are against 1%. Even without a mission, they have been able to attract hoards of people to join their cause. Live to protest, get it done by evangelizing any agenda to anyone who will listen.
I don’t mean to criticize, merely suggest that OWS and the Jersey Shore represent two options for young people. Humans (especially youthful ones) need purpose. I have two younger brothers who mean the world to me. As they begin to set of onto their own paths, create their own lives, I hope that they will find a way to take pride in what they create, the people in their lives and focus less on their sense of loss and doubt.
When people are looking for opportunity / experiences / work, it is critical that we provide them with meaningful chances to be valuable. As a community, we should give them causes to be excited about. This generation is exceptionally driven and ambitious. However, they’ve had success and path defined for them their entire lives. Give them hints and be patient as they find their way. I truly believe we are capable of great things, if we unplug the Shore and sit down and plan a solution for the real and great problems of today.
So for what it’s worth, there are 3 things we need to address as a society:
Step 1. Curbing Entitlement – or how to live happily when you’re not going to marry Jessica Alba, live next door to Shaq and become best friends with Bill Gates after you successfully takeover his company.
It’s tough. It seemed as if things were going to continue to progress rapidly forever. And your parents always told you how many opportunities you have that they didn’t. And your teachers always told you how smart you are, your coaches marveled at your extraordinary talent, and you grew up with the many comforts typically allowed only to kings of developing continents. With such a divine upbringing, certainly you would grow to be a leader of men, famed and respected.
The insult of being a peon in some job without the ability to control, let alone secure a lifestyle with the comforts of home is unthinkable. You have a college diploma!
Take solace in life as an adventure. Try everything. Try new careers and hobbies. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh and are kind and smart. Adopt role models with many dimensions, not just fame or money or looks. Those things are fleeting and do not guarantee happiness. One day you will rise to see the sun come up on the life you have built; with many good people and interests, it will satisfy and delight you.
Aim to be this type of person for other people.
Step 2. Hard work. It is perhaps the simplest (and most old-timey) advice I have, taken from a sincere and true place in my heart. I know nothing that gets me through the darkest of hours than the forced sense of accomplishment achieved from work and productivity. Write a story or a poem, volunteer at your local hospital, record a song, photograph a series. Millenials, this is your preference, just create something so that should you doubt things are worth doing, you have something to show for your effort.
Step 3. Role models. This country was built on them. From the guys who made fortunes in tobacco crop in the Carolinas to entrepreneurs like Joe Kennedy and Ted Turner. We need to redefine our heroes. Each decade or half century, U.S. society chose men (and women) who embodied hope, honor, courage, and self-defined success. We can no longer afford to live on the beacons of yesterday. Our issues are different, more complex and even exciting! But they require today’s champions and I can promise you, Snookie is not it.
Seek out the people who are fighting to change the game. Bring light to their fights, expose their needs for hands and resources and ignite those who despair and search for purpose. It takes a village, but I find some of my favorite people have a knack for building up other people. Highlight the achievements of others; it all comes back to you.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that our generation is looking for some guidance, are eager to join any cause. It’s something to do. It appears noble. We were promised a future brighter than any had ever seen before and instead we inherit an aging, deteriorating country, more debt than we can hope to pay off, and dismal employment opportunities. We can still make something amazing! We just need to define specifically what problems need fixing and then focus. It will be difficult and our future probably won’t look like we expected, but it’s going to be ours, we will have defined it for ourselves, and it’s going to be AWESOME!
