We are among you: The rise of the Millennials.

 

 

 

Not to know what happened before you were born is to remain a child forever.

 

There is a generation shift happening as you read these lines. At the minimum, the rise is dramatic and may seem very unceremonious but yes! There is an immutable rise. I am not referring to some galactic or celestial movements but to the rise of a new specie of humans. Genealogical investigation reveals that the earth welcomed the arrival of this new specie at the wake of 1970s. By the time you finish reading this, the chance is that you will be able to connect the dots. It is such an interesting time to be alive.

There are multiple theories around the dateline for the industrial revolution but tying it all up, it is true that we did indeed transited from a highly Neolithic age of crude sophistication to a new productivity era. This era marked the rise of machines. Wikipedia account of industrial revolution puts it like this “The transition to new manufacturing processes that occurred in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power and development of machine tools. The transition also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal. The Industrial revolution began in Britain and within a few decades spread to Western Europe and the United States…”.

 

 

The Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way. Most notably, average income and population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth. In the words of Nobel Prize winner Robert E. Lucas, Jr., "For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth ... Nothing remotely like this economic behavior has happened before. This was a new beginning in every material respects. The American economy was growing at a very interesting rate. It is recorded that the wealth of that nation entreated many. In fact, this era marked a new frontier in the expression of the American Dream. Citizens from other nations wanted to be a part of this great renewal. This was not to last forever.

 

 

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in 1930 and lasted until the late 1930s or middle 1940s.It was the longest, most widespread, and deepest depression of the 20th century. The Great Depression had devastating effects in countries rich and poor. Personal income, tax revenue, profits and prices dropped, while international trade plunged by more than 50%. Unemployment in the U.S. rose to 25% and in some countries rose as high as 33%.

According to Wikipedia, the first generation of baby boomers is those that were born during the demographic post-World War II baby boom between the years 1943 and 1964, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Second World War was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. The baby boomers were the wealthiest, most active, and most physically fit generation up to that time, and amongst the first to grow up genuinely expecting the world to improve with time. They were also the generation that received peak levels of income; therefore they could reap the benefits of abundant levels of food, apparel, retirement programs, and sometimes even "midlife crisis" products.

Fast forward to the today, there is clearly again an indication of a shifting cultural arrangement in the world. There is a new generation of difference and whichever way you look at it; some have said the current generation exhibit a radically different set of orientation. This generation born between 1980 and today see the world in a very different way. They must be looking from a different lens too. Erwin Williams (Author, The Global Entrepreneur) posited also about a new breed of individuals who operate by a different set of rules. They are not limited by national sentiments but conceive the world as flat. There is no gainsaying that this generation is different.

 

 

In her speech, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili referred to an article by David Wraight in which he posits that there is a globalized generation of youth – often referred to as the Millennial Generation. “They believe that they can change the world for the better, but they are unsure what they should change the world to; so they search for an ideology or system of belief to use as a foundation for the change they seek. They are actually searching for something worth living for and dying for.” They are optimistic and idealistic with a deep desire to make their mark in the world. They dream of what can be, and follow their dreams with passion and perseverance. They are no longer prepared to be spectators watching the world go by, but want to be‘players’, to get their hands dirty, to make a difference. They are knowledgeable about the affairs of the world and very mobile, travelling as much as resources and opportunity allow.”

 

 

The new generation I am talking about is one that's prepared to embrace the unbeaten path to become more than anyone could define. I have these people as friends. I have them as acquaintances. They are chest beating but not boorish. They want to be a part of things bigger than themselves. They despise the rat race. They are solving real problems. They have upturned the pyramid of needs and consider self-actualization as the only need that's worth pursuing. They are not far from you. I am proud to be one of them.


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