Talkin ’bout my generation… oh wait, our generation’s too young for that song.

I got asked to fill out a survey about Generation Y (ages 18-31, I think) and some of the questions got me philosophizing. I thought I’d share.

If you want to take the survey, go here.

(on work/life issues)

For us it’s very weird. Right now my husband and I have about an hour when we’re awake at the same time before one of us is at work. He works 8:30-5:30; I work 3-11 and I commute an hour each way, so I don’t get home until midnight. But our weekends are damn special. Do I wish we had more time? Sure, and I wish i had a book deal, world peace and a pony. All things considered, we are blessed. We say to each other, “We work now when we’re young and strong so we will have time when we’re older to enjoy.” Plus, I love my job too much to give it up.

(on our generation’s work ethic and motivation)

If you ask me, all those grandpas who think we’re slackers can go bite into an apple and lose another tooth. We are the most creative, focused, motivated generation on the planet. The whole world will change based on the innovative thinking going on right now. Sustainable food and fuel, new communications technologies that are inherently democratic… it’s the wiki generation and we’re all pitching in to create a bit of a better world. There’s a quote for your report!

(on dress codes at work)

My career is one of late-night hours, so one of the tradeoffs is we don’t have to dress up because there are no meetings and no clients to impress. Doesn’t mean we don’t dress up occasionally if we’re told clients will be in the office. I do find that work clothes are extremely expensive and I’m lucky I don’t have to wear them often.

(on our generation being “entitled”)

Pardon me while I lol. LOL.

I understand what they’re saying, I honestly do. I can’t speak for Paris Hilton or that lot, but I know I’ve been brought up to understand the cost of luxuries. We don’t have extended cable in our house because the monthly charges are off the wall. But we do have video game systems and computers because they’re worth the money. We pay our bills like good hard-working Americans.

Every generation thinks the next generation is a bunch of spoiled brats, but they forget that they’ve been working to make things better for us. They shouldn’t begrudge us the very fruits of their labor. Our task is saving the planet for OUR kids now, and no doubt we’ll soon be sitting on a front porch grumbling about how those kids think that they can plug their electric car in ANYWHERE. Personally, I look forward to it.