Life Before Noon: A Millennial’s Manual

I’m a Broadway musical junkie. I’ll admit it. Despite the frequent ostentatious showgirl and shallow love song, sometimes Broadway musical plots may coincide with our own lives as Millennials more often than we think. Stick with me on this.

As the new generation of young professionals entering the working world, Millennials seem to be shaking the business and political arenas. We are diverse, multitasking, tech-savvy individuals. We love teamwork and are optimistic. We are determined individuals as well.

Despite our positive attributes, we definitely have our faults.

A a college senior and a Millennial, I have noticed that we are often apprehensive about our future in the working world. Thoughts of health insurance, office politics, and recessions weigh heavy in our minds and wallets. We should strive to remain positive during this transition into the “real world.”

Elle Woods, the stereotypical So-Cal sorority sister provides a not-so-obvious positive attitudinal example for Millennials from the musical Legally Blonde. As Elle chases her college boyfriend to Harvard Law School in numerous whimsical tunes, she realizes that she cannot win back his heart. Through the help of friends, Elle recognizes that she had been wishing for future success in love and work instead of making it happen. Elle buckles down, remains positive throughout her studies, lands a prestigious law internship, graduates at the top of her class and finds true love. The plot is far-fetched, but has a lesson that should resonate with Millennials.

In class work, internship and job hunting we often wish for things to happen instead of actually trying. We think about doing something, talk about it with every possible adviser and then try. I spend more time making to-do lists, thinking and talking about the work I have to do than actually doing work. My friends and I often talk about the future, internships, job hunting, and applications more than we actually complete them.

The same applies to other aspects of our lives. We often talk about trying a new work out, calling an old friend, driving down a new road, taking a walk in the park. As Nike would say, just do it.

Once Elle sat down with her law books and tried, she was successful. Maybe we should take a lesson from Elle and stop wishing and start doing. I realize that sometimes when we are “doing” it isn’t successful. I know the feeling of filling out numerous applications and sending out over 30 cover letters and resumes. At least I know I tried instead of thinking about it.

If you want to do something, do it. Listen to the critics with your heart in mind. And just as Elle realized “being true to yourself never goes out of style,” neither does carpe diem.

-Carla