Hello from a Y Gen Failure

So what is a Y Gen Failure?

First, let's define the "Y Generation. Also known as the Millennial Generation, Generation Y is the demographic cohort following the Generation X. (children of the 60's and 70's)  With birth dates ranging between 1979 and 1997, the Y generation is marked by an increased use and familiarity with communications, media, and digital technologies. (hello MP3, Youtube and Smart phones!)

Traits of this the Y Generation include:

• Tech Savvy
• Family-centric
• Achievement-oriented
• Team Oriented
• Attention craving

We are the offspring of America's most divorced generation of parents. (daughter of a single mother myself, HI MOM!) We have been taught to think we can do anything we want and we can be all we can be; some may call this a sense of entitlement or spoilage. From this ingrained mindset, we  do not feel rushed into marriage nor are we rushing parenthood; the average age of the new mother at the birth of the first child these days is 31!





The 2007–2012 global financial crisis has had a major impact on this generation because it has caused historically high levels of unemployment among young people, leading to possible long term economic and social damage. (damn)


So again getting back on track, what is a YGen Failure?
Sorry to digress into jibber jabber about my generation, it must be that ADHD those X Generation doctors keep telling me I have. (according to them, if you climb trees and like bright colors, you have ADHD...really...really medical field?)


A "Y Gen Failure" is a member of this generation who has felt the hits encompassed within this demographic; as a result, the individuals have adapted and currently display one or more of the following traits:

• glued to youtube, facebook, twitter, linkedin, pinterest, etcetera
• live at home with parents
• work in a 'meh' job or unemployed
• display a cynical, inappropriate or just plain odd sense of humor
• appear as self-centered, narcissistic and down right rude

NY life with my roomie

Now back to me. My name is Jhazmine. I pretty much spent my adolescent life as a very successful artist who was seemingly going places. I made the switch to commercial / sequential art in college, had a few works printed and landed an internship at Marvel Entertainment in New York; I even had some of my work published via Marvel (Big Hero 6 - B story issues 2 & 3). I kept hearing the praises and promises among the big wigs, "Yes, we plan on keeping her!", "She will be a great asset!", "You have a job here!",  so on and so forth.  The economic recession hit probably 3 months after I started my internship and was about be hired on; to survive NY during a recession, I got a job at a grocery store. My boyfriend at the time (jobless of course) moved to New York with me, and everything went to hell.



Failed Y Gen Specimen

After much heartache and disappointment in the downward spiral of my career -and relationship- I decided to pack my bags and return home. Of course, home wasn't really home. My grandfather had died and my childhood home with him was sold. My mother remarried while I was away in college, so home was at my new step dad's place. My mom sacrificed her art studio to be converted into my bedroom (sorry mom) and my worldly possessions were compiled into tupperware boxes. During my angsty depression, my parents set me up with a family friend's son to recover, and three years in I am still recovering.

Now, I am 26 years young with a plan to get back on track with my Y Gen goals! Follow along to see the antics, the setbacks, the successes, the failures and the overall journey of a Y Gen Failure.

        


Wish me luck!