Student Leaders of Tomorrow “Expectations of Millennials” Dave Reed Department of Horticultural Sciences Texas A&M University

ExpectationsExpectationsExpectationsExpectationsExpectations Student Leaders of Tomorrow

What are your “Expectations” of “College”? What should “College” give you that will allow you to become the “Best You Can Be”?

Student Leaders of Tomorrow List 4 of your “Expectations” of College To determine your expectations, think about the following: What do I hope to get out of college? What do I hope to get out of college? What skill, characteristic or attribute do I think I need to start a career? What skill, characteristic or attribute do I think I need to start a career? What will make me employable? What will make me employable?

Student Leaders of Tomorrow List 4 of your “Expectations” of College To develop your list, think about the following: What do I hope to get out of college? What skill, characteristic or attribute do I need to start a career? What will make me employable? 1) __________________________________________ 2)___________________________________________3)___________________________________________ 4) ___________________________________________

Expectations Setting Expectations for Freshman 2004 Freshman Convocation “Become the Best You Can Be”

Expectations Courses and Grades Courses and Grades Experience Experience People Skills and Networking People Skills and Networking Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential

Expectations Courses and Grades “You are going to have to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPR or we will ask you to leave - bummer!” “However, you need to strive to maintain your grades as high as possible, because the higher your grades the more career opportunities will be available to you upon graduation.”

Expectations Experience “Whenever I bring students to visit industry leaders, I always ask: What is the first thing you look for when hiring employees? What do you think they always say?” “Experience”

Expectations People Skills and Networking “Can you apply your academic knowledge and work experience in an interactive world of incredibly diverse people?” “If you are that quiet, somewhat introverted, wall flower, you need to blossom.” “If you are that braggadocio know-it-all, you need to tone it down and learn to listen more.”

Expectations Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential “Can you put your academic skills, work experience and people skills together to accomplish tasks?” “Finally, you need to become a team player and a potential leader.”

Expectations Final Challenge “… to begin using this Learning Community and the opportunities available to you … to build yourself into the “Total Package” and become “The Best You Can Be”

Expectations How many of the expectations you listed fall under one of these categories? Courses and Grades Courses and Grades Experience Experience People Skills and Networking People Skills and Networking Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential

Expectations I have come to realize that these are “My Expectations”, which reflect the Expectations of the Fading “Baby Boomers” & Current “Generation X”. Therefore, I am imposing the Expectations of “My Generation” on that of “Your Generation”

Expectations We must ask the question: What are the Expectations of “Your Generation”? And, where they “clash”, we must resolve the conflict!

Generations What is “Your Generation”? You are the kids, primarily of Generation X, born since 1980, and who currently are infusing colleges. “Millennials” “Generation Y” “Echo Boomers” “Generation Dot Com”

Baby Boomers (40s-50s) Generation X (60-70s) MillennialsMillennialsMillennials Millennials (80s+) Generations Change

Millennials Let’s Characterize the “Millennials” primarily from Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising – The Next Generation

A Little Bit About the Environment and Times in Which Millennials Grew Up most watched over generation in history most watched over generation in history most protected generation in history most protected generation in history came along at a time when adults started re-valuing kids came along at a time when adults started re-valuing kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids have been exposed to advanced technology in every aspect of their life have been exposed to advanced technology in every aspect of their life have been exposed to an internet world with no boundaries have been exposed to an internet world with no boundaries Millennials

Millennials Experiences and Characteristics? Let’s outline what you have experienced in life and the characteristics these experiences have imparted in you.

Millennials Which Describe Your Experiences and Characteristics? Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. Like working on projects and activities in teams. Like working on projects and activities in teams. Like team based rewards/grades/recognition. Like team based rewards/grades/recognition. Don’t like to keep score. (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in the “participation” and “experience” gained) Don’t like to keep score. (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in the “participation” and “experience” gained)

Millennials Which Describe Your Experiences and Characteristics? Like immediate recognition (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end of season, activity or class reward) Like immediate recognition (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end of season, activity or class reward) Consider your parent or guardian your “friend”. Consider your parent or guardian your “friend”. Believe your parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. Believe your parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. Like to please your parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc. Like to please your parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc.

Millennials Which Describe Your Experiences and Characteristics? Your parents like to “play” with you. Your parents like to “play” with you. Easily bored if “nothing to do” Easily bored if “nothing to do” Not worried about what your life will be like 20 years from now. Not worried about what your life will be like 20 years from now. Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.) Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.)

Millennials Expectations Let’s determine how these experiences have molded your expectations.

Millennials Which Describe Your Expectations? I expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now) I expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now) I expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) I expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) I expect to be rewarded for participation, not individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment) I expect to be rewarded for participation, not individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment) I expect a reward for everything I do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions) I expect a reward for everything I do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions)

Millennials

Millennials Which Describe Your Expectations? I expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while I am still young and can enjoy it.) I expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while I am still young and can enjoy it.) I expect to work with teams, friends and positive people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) I expect to work with teams, friends and positive people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) I expect to be respected by my teachers, boss and peers. I expect to be respected by my teachers, boss and peers. I do not expect my job to control my life and other activities. I do not expect my job to control my life and other activities.

Millennials Which Describe Your Expectations? I expect to be challenged and learn new skills. I expect to be challenged and learn new skills. I expect technology to increase and am very comfortable with it. I expect technology to increase and am very comfortable with it. I have optimistic expectations about the future. I have optimistic expectations about the future. I expect to volunteer and be civic minded. I expect to volunteer and be civic minded.

Clash of Expectations Due to different expectations, there is a Clash of Expectations between the “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” and the “Millennials”

Clash of Expectations Examples of the “Generation Clash” Millennials Expect: expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect grade inflation expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence do not understand the “Current Generation’s definition of scholastic dishonesty

Millennials Let’s not end on negatives about your generation, the “Millennials”

Millennials - Positives Positives about these “Millennials” violent crime is down violent crime is down tobacco and alcohol use are down tobacco and alcohol use are down teen pregnancy is down teen pregnancy is down aptitude test scores are up aptitude test scores are up optimism about the future is up optimism about the future is up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up you are the best well educated, technologically advanced and technologically comfortable generation this world has ever seen! you are the best well educated, technologically advanced and technologically comfortable generation this world has ever seen! Some feel you may become the Next Great Generation

My New Expectations It is our job to help you achieve this potential! “We must learn” how to “teach you” without sacrificing “our academic standards”!

Your New Expectations You must realize: ”My Generation” will assign your grades. “My Generation” will hire you. “My Generation” will promote you. You must learn how to live and function in “My Generation’s System” until You Become the “Established Generation” and start setting the “Rules”