Life Before Noon: A Millennial’s Manual

At an after-work function last week, a colleague (it still feels weird for me to say that) was discussing a recent issue he had with a parent of a prospective student. He was appalled that this student’s parent was doing all the work for him — calling about this and that — when the student should be the one taking the initiative to get the questions he had answered himself. After this little rant several of my co-workers just looked at each other and in unison shook their heads and simply said one word, “Millennials.”

It got me thinking.

Being a Generation Y blogger and all, I should have been well aware of what I was getting myself into. Perhaps I’m just naive, okay really naive, but I entered my first post-grad job not concerned with a potential divide that could exist between the Baby Boomer generation and the Millennials. (And for that matter, where do those angst-ridden Generation Xers come into play?) But the truth is an (typically) unspoken rift between the old and the new thrives in the workplace. That’s life, kid.

If I had a nickel for every computer tip I’ve given in the last three weeks, well let’s just say, I’d have a lot of nickels. But technology isn’t the only thing we’re good at. Despite what you may think, some of us can take constructive criticism and accept failure as a possiblity. And most of us certainly wouldn’t allow our parents to do the talking for us.

Stereotypes exist. And I’m not out to become some beacon of hope for my fellow Millennials and launch some overzealous political movement fighting for right to party. But I hate being la bled as a self-involved whiner who needs to be spoon-fed success in order to sleep at night.

Not all of us were given trophies just for participating in Little League. Some of us got them for actually being able to hit a ball every now and then.

-Marilyn

So, I landed a job and now there’s no turning back. The New York Times published an article last week about this very situation, college graduates who have had the last summer vacation of their lives. It all sounds very traumatic, and overdramatic. And I can’t help but hear an alarm going off in my mind. There’s this small sense of panic, maybe even claustrophobia.

But, in my new reality, there’s no room for panic. Even when the alarm is ringing at full force, I’ve got to get up, get dressed and get to work.

It was in my first week of work, when I boarded my very first Washington, D.C. metrobus, that I realized public transportation really is the embodiment of this new life.

Navigating the bus line is my Everest. When I have successfully mastered it, I believe I will finally be able to relax and set my panic at ease. (Biking is reserved for year two).

The bus is a complicated system of turns, colors and timing (albeit, fairly inaccurate timing). Mastering it is a true, never-ending test of patience. Some days I’m tapping my foot and anxiously checking my watch. I’ll hop on any bus that comes my way. I’m desperate.

Other days, I’m riding easy with space and time to spare.

Sometimes, I’m crammed up against all kinds of people like a sardine. Obsessively thinking about how I can’t wait to get to work and wash my hands.

But, isn’t that life? I may be rushing through projects, desperate to get things done, desperate to succeed - to prove to myself (and others) that I was hired for a reason. I might be crossing my fingers in hopes that the right thing comes along at the right time.

Or, I may be crammed back in a corner, with a full schedule and a full plate, pushing myself out the door to “freedom.”

Or, I may be rested and relaxed taking it all in stride and calmly getting it done. 

Sometimes, I might be going at it alone. Other times I may be seated alongside someone who’s in it with me.

Oh and some days I may be onboard the bus with a sleepy driver who slams on brakes causing me to be thrown across my seat and slammed up against a divider. I won’t even plunge into the wealth of metaphors that situation provides.

This is the metrobus that is my life.

-Rachel

You have officially moved into your new city post-graduation. Congratulations! You have a handle on the commute, the corporate culture and your daily tasks. You are on the path to success.

And then Friday night rolls around. Crap.

You have no social life.

Maintaining a work/life balance is important, especially when moving to a new city. Friends may be difficult to find, and finding good friends who share similar values and work ethic is even harder.

But finding those friends isn’t as hard as you think. It just takes stepping outside your comfort zone to make connections. Here are some guidelines I follow:

1. Talk to people. It’s that simple. Waiting for the subway, tell the girl standing next to you that you like her scarf. Talk about the weather to the guy in line next to you. It may seem uncomfortable at first, but it can be a good networking exercise as well. Disclaimer: don’t be a creeper, just be social.
2. Be open to different types of friends. That’s what moving to a different city is about. Talk to a variety of people. Just because you had a certain “type” of friend at home or in school doesn’t mean you can’t make very different friendships in your new home.
3. Don’t sit at home. You work hard and want to relax. Go to a coffee shop and read. Sit in a park, go to the gym, take a walk. Put yourself in a social atmosphere and cancel that date with your TV and Ben & Jerry’s. Then follow #1.
4. Be friendly, but not too friendly with co-workers. Spending time outside the office with co-workers may increase camaraderie, but don’t let it interfere with your professional life in the office.
5. Don’t wait for the bar. Chances are you may make some friends at the bar. Just don’t wait to go out on Friday or Saturday night to make friends.
6. Maintain your friendships from home. Continue to maintain your friends from school and home. With ever-changing social media it is easy to stay connected despite distance.

Solid friendships may be hard to come by, but by putting yourself in different social situations it may become easier.

-Carla