We all know the Baby Boomers and Generation X, they have been around for a while and have been studied intensely. Who are the new kids on the block? They are the Millennials - born between 1977 and 1993(varies depending on your source), this is the generation that is making its way through high school, university and into the work force.
This new generation has been given a bad reputation already by those that preceded them. They are perceived as self absorbed, entitled and unfocused (Espinoza et al., 2010). These perceptions are made by people who, as a whole, have a different set of values than the Millennials.
As parents, educators and employers, we need to make ourselves aware of what the trends in values are in order to better support our youth. Espinoza et al, have identified 9 Intrinsic Values of the Millennial Generation but we will focus on 4 and how they relate to taking a gap year.
Work-Life Balance: More than previous generations, Millennials aren’t prepared to sacrifice their personal life for the sake of work. They are prepared to be paid less in order to be able to do the things that they find most satisfying outside of the work place. A gap year is an excellent way for youth to find the things that are most inspiring for them and expose them to a new set of activities that they can engage in to balance their work.
Attention: Millennials can be seen as self-absorbed but it is actually the individual attention that they crave. This generation was raised with a softer touch where most of their needs were preempted or quickly met by their parents and they have come to expect individualized attention. This could be why the higher education system is not as appealing to many of this new generation - learning broad topics in large classrooms does not appeal to this value. A gap year through mygapyear allows for individualized coaching and the creation of a plan that is specific to the goals of that individual. This learning experience will appeal to the value of attention while encouraging learning and development.
This new generation has been given a bad reputation already by those that preceded them. They are perceived as self absorbed, entitled and unfocused (Espinoza et al., 2010). These perceptions are made by people who, as a whole, have a different set of values than the Millennials.
As parents, educators and employers, we need to make ourselves aware of what the trends in values are in order to better support our youth. Espinoza et al, have identified 9 Intrinsic Values of the Millennial Generation but we will focus on 4 and how they relate to taking a gap year.
Work-Life Balance: More than previous generations, Millennials aren’t prepared to sacrifice their personal life for the sake of work. They are prepared to be paid less in order to be able to do the things that they find most satisfying outside of the work place. A gap year is an excellent way for youth to find the things that are most inspiring for them and expose them to a new set of activities that they can engage in to balance their work.
Attention: Millennials can be seen as self-absorbed but it is actually the individual attention that they crave. This generation was raised with a softer touch where most of their needs were preempted or quickly met by their parents and they have come to expect individualized attention. This could be why the higher education system is not as appealing to many of this new generation - learning broad topics in large classrooms does not appeal to this value. A gap year through mygapyear allows for individualized coaching and the creation of a plan that is specific to the goals of that individual. This learning experience will appeal to the value of attention while encouraging learning and development.
Simplicity: Many of the Millennials have learned to be focused on the “small picture” and how they are personally affected. This is a wonderful trait to have because Millennials are acutely aware of their personal state and how they manifest themselves. Where a gap year could benefit this value is in teaching the Millennials how to see the “bigger picture” and help them relate their personal state or actions with the world around them. Traveling can teach youth about stewardship, cooperation, diversity and how they fit into the global perspective. Broadening their understanding of the world will help them integrate into the demanding world of globalization.Meaning: In general, the Millennials need to feel that they have a purpose, that their contribution is valuable and going to be contributing to something great. Taking a gap year exposes Millennials to a wide variety of experiences. Youth my find new passions, be fulfilled by working towards an existing passion or discover ways of combining their passions with work. There are so many jobs out there that we don’t know exist unless we actively search for them - we are not confined to being a teacher, firefighter or banker anymore (although these are equally valuable jobs!).
Reference:
Espinoza, C, Ukleja, M. & Rusch, C. (2010). Managing the Millennials: Discover the core competencies for managing today's youth. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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