I see it very different. There are plenty of Gen X parents who couldn’t pick up their child’s education tab for various reasons – just as in any other generation. I’m part of Gen X and paid for my own college even with Baby Boomer parents. My parents would have probably paid for my college if I had asked. I worked through high school and always felt when I was on my own the only person I should depend on is myself.

Generally, I also agree Gen Y is very productive and willing to work very hard – but the rules have changed a bit.

I feel my generation, me included does feel that they are owed a bit. Whether we are owed, in actuality, is up for question. I, for instance, feel I may have it considerably harder than Gen X as I didn’t have generally wealthy baby boomer parents. I paid for my education entirely with student loans and now I feel I invested lots of money into school and should have some sort of benefit.

Generally speaking, I feel Gen Y is just as willing to work hard as any other generation, but our vision for how we want our non-work lives to be overrides our desire to please our employers.

My greatest tips for working with whipper snappers such as myself: be flexible, offer lots of training and open discussion about challenges and difficulties surrounding the job. Feeling included and not looked down upon because of age encourages me much more than an older manager or supervisor saying in a condescending tone, “just get it done.”

Although, when all else fails, my wants take a back seat to the fact that I need to be employed to pay my huge student loan bills. I guess I know when to shut my mouth and just work.