They’re optimistic:
Multiple studies report a defining feature of Millennials is optimism, for themselves and the future of society. And this is in spite of the fact that they can’t take for granted the things that Boomers did — a secure job, a life-long marriage, enough money to buy a home, an education that leads to a career, a social safety net, and a secure retirement.
In all likelihood, their optimism is in part due to their youth — Boomers were also optimistic and idealistic when they were the same age. But researchers also argue that the uncertainties of the world have left the new generation with a sense of freedom, and they like that. To them, unstable employment is a given, and so they have mentally adjusted to this situation by giving themselves the freedom to change career paths as opportunities arise. To what extent they will regard that freedom as a positive as they get older is anyone’s guess, but for now it works for them.
Their brains are different:
Millennials are better educated — in 1970, only 32% of people age 25–29 had at least some college, vs. 59% in 2008. But more interesting than that, they seem to be wired differently. Neuroscientists have found that Millennials, and likely every generation that will follow them, show significant differences in brain functioning, and that’s believed to be due to their immersion in digital technology. They’re better at filtering through lots of information quickly, responding to visual cues, and multi-tasking. When you consider the quantity of information that’s available and the speed at which it’s disseminated through the internet, being able to get through all that stuff efficiently is an extremely important skill for the future.
