We, the Millennial (A Glimpse on the Modern Teenager)

There are always at least two sides to almost everything.

To the board of judges, my dear colleagues, teachers, spectators, and

of course my fellow millennial, good morning.

We are gathered here today to listen to the spilling out and revelations
about modern teenagers, right? But I, will enlighten you and at the same
time try my very best to change your perspectives about me, being a
modern teen, and more importantly about my fellow teenagers. Please, bear
with me for I will be asking minutes of your precious attention.

As I was scrolling my smartphone drowning myself in research about

teens of today, a sudden touch of realization slapped me. Why would I
research if already knew such things? Why would I discover facts I already
observed everywhere? It’s clear. I can almost fathom anything about me and
my millennial siblings.

Let me judge our generation from my own personal perspective. First,

let’s discuss the negative facet of the millennial. We are a bit lazy,
irresponsible, and spoiled. You would put your fingers on me and would
shout, “You are so wrong!” But no, my friend, I am right. Worst, we’re
termed as the cancer of the modern society. And also, some would say, Dr.
Jose Rizal would be very disappointed on us. Facepalm.

As the technological world gradually devour everything around us,

teens are the most likely to be affected. We always want something new,
something portable, better, and entertaining. Social media, internet,
computer, smartphones have been bacteria that infected our innocent
minds, but it has also been our companion to everything. It’s just that we
abuse it. We drown ourselves into it, and along the way we have been
trapped in an inescapable abyss. We forget everything around us, our family,
friends, and responsibilities as we ride along on the peak of entertaining
ourselves. We tend to ignore the pressure of the society upon us, especially
to our education. Gadgets have been eating so much of our time making us
inattentive of the serious issues darkening pour paths. We prefer to be
entertained than enlightened. We hear things but we don’t listen at all. We
are so good that we forget other have feelings too. We think we are too
advanced that we don’t put sincerity to major aspects of our lives that
matter much more than we can think of. We are a bit immature on our
status. These are the kinds of epidemical situations that worsen the image of
not just one, but everyone in our generation. I’m not blaming you my dear
friends, but it is indeed undeniable that we have mistakes also. The problem
is not the people or the things around us, but ourselves. But we millennial
are very open for changes, right?
 Secondly, the millennial are creative, passionate, and evolving.
Now this is something positive and everyone would agree on this. According
to research, teenagers of today are the most creative and advanced in the
history. Why? Simply because we tend to ignore things in a positive way and
we focused on the things that matter most. Education, community
involvement, scientific contributions, inventions, environmental activities,
revolutionary acts, you name it all, millennial are very versatile and flexible.
With just our young and fragile minds, we can change the sphere of
existence. We are empowered, motivated, and well-educated that we can
stand on our own; that we can create our own world that is by far better than
the past.
We have the ultimate freedom improving ourselves and delivering ourselves
to the altar of progress. That’s because we are millennial! That’s because we
are modernized not by the technology alone but by experience brought by
the prejudices and stereotypical society. I am proud being a modern teen
because of this!

My friends, it’s palpable that we are very different from the teens of
the past. But it’s also clear that we have right to be unique for this is our
time. Being a teen is once in a lifetime experience. Let us enjoy it, and learn
along the way.

Now, this is for the older generation. In a realm where mistake of one,
is the wrongness of the general, we are in a desperate need of your help.
One should not define all in a group. Don’t put the blame on us all alone! For
it is not our mistake to have existed in the modern times. It is not our
mistake that technology has evolved and which also corrupted our young
minds. It is not our mistake being a teen for it’s a stage in our lives. And it is
not our mistake if you have different impressions and perspectives about us
– because we are different. And difference is good. We live in a dynamic
sphere of era. If we are cancers of the society, then be our cure. We are
products of human evolution. And evolution is a good sign that our world is
progressing. Let us evolved! Let us learn.

To end, let me tell you these lines from an African poem by Roland
Dempster, and I quote, “God made me me, He made you you. For God’s
sake, let me be me!”

Thank you and long live the modern teens!