parsons thesis // bright
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An Expressive Collection of Thought's from Today's Generation. Parsons Thesis 2010TRANSCRIPT
An Expressive Collection of Thoughts from Today's Generation
BRIGHT
AVALON MCKENZIE
An Expressive Collection of Thoughts from Today’s Generation
An Expressive Collection of Thoughts from Today's Generation
An Expressive Collection of Thoughts from Today's Generation
BRIGHTAVALON MCKENZIE
An Expressive Collection of Thoughts from Today’s Generation
t
BRIGHT. Copyright © 2010 by Avalon McKenzie. All rights reserved. Printed in
the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission.
For information please visit www.avalonmckenzie.com.
All Content Designed by Avalon McKenzie.
To my beautiful mother, Brenda, who bringsjoy and creativity to every aspect of life.
Thank you for having faith in me.
xoxo
uring my four years at Parsons The New School for Design, I have been influenced by my peers. I have been inspired by their style, their sophisticated opinions in class, their out-looks on life, and the amazing art projects they create. After
observing and admiring the talents of friends and classmates, I recog-nized that I belong to a truly significant generation. We have grown up with computers, the Internet, and other new technologies that have empowered us to interact with the world in new ways. We are deeply im-mersed in a new global culture, where the bounds of time and place no longer affect the information we have access to. For these reasons, we are adaptable, communicative, and eager to impact the world.
After reading an article in The Boston Globe that labeled today’s youth as the “Entitlement Generation,” I was curious to find out how my peers would define themselves. With that direction in mind, I compiled a sur-vey consisting of 14 brief questions. For the purpose of this project, I chose to consider today’s generation as people born between 1985 and 1995. Networking through friends, I surveyed 137 individuals over the course of one month.
Upon receiving the first several responses, I was excited by the quality of what was being shared. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my family, looking through the pages of interviews, and not being able to put them down. Some answers were serious and some were sarcastic, many were humorous, and others uplifting. My desire was to feature the interviews as creatively as possible to bring out the unique viewpoints of each individual.
My visual style combines line drawings, vintage imagery, paint, digital art, original photography, magazine clippings, typography, and collage. Through distinct use of color, texture, and space, I hope this book will serve as a voice for the young people who are featured. Whether you feel inspired, hopeful, or amused after reading “Bright,” I hope you will gain a fresh perspective on today’s generation.
Name:AGE:HOMETOWN:
Do you have a tattoo?
Would you get one?
What would the Subject matter be?
List 3 things you love
List 3 things you cannot stand
What is your favorite mode of communication?
• Talking in person• Talking on the phone• Texting• Emailing• Facebook• Writing a card or letter
Would you like to remain anonymous?
Please fill in the blank with the word(s) that best describe our age group.
I feel like young people our age hold themselves to really high standards.Would you say that you are hard on yourself ?
PLEASE FINISH EACH PHRASE...
My dream is to:I am unique because:
GENERATION:
3lovesMOST COMMON
FAMILYFRIENDS &MUSIC
The most recurring label for today’s generation:
GENERATION CHANGE
17STATES REPRESENTED
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLEWHO HAVE A TATTOO }11qqqqq2 in 5 people said they
would like to get a tattoo
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED:USA
JAPANRUSSIAFRANCE
DENMARK DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
6
FAVORITE MODE OF COMMUNICATION:
TALKING IN PERSON
}42People chose to
remain anonymous.
137people participated in the survey.
Of those people,
38
99
64Peanut butter & banana sandwiches consumed during the creation of this book
38 were male & 99 were female and
I chose to define today’s generation as individuals who were born between 1985 & 1995.
Age
Num
ber o
f pa
rticip
ants
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAITLYN GENERATION
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BRENDAN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
You can take as much as you can from the generation that has preceded you, but then it’s up to you to make something new.
tJACKSON BROWNE
COREY21 Vermont, United States
I’m unique because I am the only one with my family background, education, genes, and social experiences—which shape who I am as an individual.
I LOVE:
mountains
“”
My religion
I Hate:SUVs
Suburbia
Vodka
nearly everything i do in school and my social
life is based on moral & ethical principles.
p. 11
MATTHEW20
Texas, United States
i hate close-mindedness and coconut
i am unique because there will
never be anyone quite like me
(that seems obvious, but it is
actually profound)
i am an eagle
scout & an
overachiever
GENERATIONLEARNING
p. 12
i am an eagle
scout & an
overachiever
my dream is to do well at whatever i do.
generationtechnology
I HATE:
when people make fun of my heightred meat
& when people don’t respond to messages
RACHEL15 Connecticut, United States
p. 13
JOE18 Connecticut, United States
Things I can’t stand:
•People who cheat in any field
•Spending too much time inside
•Someone trying to control me
One thing that stands out to me about our generation is that it’s dealing with so much constant change, whether it’s with technology or just the way of life. I’m not sure if I could call it unparalleled yet, but I think in another decade it may be.
I LOVE:
“
”My dream is to not be swayed in my decisions in the future, except by my own conscience.
i t h i n k i t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o b e s e r i o u s a b o u t w h a t y o u d o , b u t i k n o w i t s j u s t a s i m p o r -t a n t t o e n j o y w h a t y o u d o .
p. 14
18Texas, United States
CHYNA
i l o v e :m o v i e s l i k e t h e h a n g o v e r s o n g s t h a t i c a n s i n g a l o n g w i t h & m y j e e p
i s i m p l y c a n ’ t s t a n d :s u n b u r n s
o b n o x i o u s p e o p l e n o i s e s & p e o p l e w h o d o n ’ t h a v e a s e n s e o f h u m o r
My dream is to live by one of my
favorite quotes by Thoreau "All good
things are wild and free"
generation of optimistic procrastinators
I am hard on myself when i know that i can do better. I don't like to let myself down.
p. 15
18 Connecticut, United States
LEVI
I personally do not feel that I am hard on myself, but definitely am witness to many who are. I think that the standards set on today’s youth are high, but that people are often misguided. The standards do not necessarily appeal to the actual wants, desires, and passions of young people, which is a major problem.
generation
un-united
i can’t standignorance or lying
I am unique because I see flaws in the directions that my elders try to set me in and I question them—void of blind obedience.
p. 16
16Virginia, United States
DANIEL
If I got a tattoo, it would be funny and small. Maybe a moustache on the side of my finger that I could put in front of my upper lip.
I don’t see much of a point of comparing myself to other
people. I set expectations that I believe will take me where I
want to go...kids today are pretty messed up. Not to say that our predecessors aren’t.
GENERATION
I’m unique because I’m arrogant, but nobody seems to notice.
“ “m y d r e a m i s t o
g e t p a i d f o r
a r t
p. 17
21Pennsylvania, United States
NINA
I work a lot and I’m afraid my parents won’t be proud of me, when I know that they only care about my happiness.“
”
my dream is to teach young kids and own a
small farm
GENERATIONCHANGE
p. 18
21Paris, France
MARIE
i love the internet,music &
museums.
i s imply cannot stand sports on tv, digital art & fast food.
my dream is to live 100 years earlier.
generation
face-to-faceeverything but
p. 19
LIV17
Connecticut, United States
I hate
spiders
i ’ m a n o p t i m i s t i c
m o r n i n g p e r s o n
“I love myself for who I am, weird, right?
The standards I hold myself to are my own.
I can be late to school now and then, I can
forget to do homework. I don’t drink, I don’t
do drugs, and I’m happy with who I am. This
sounds awkward, my bad.
“
MY DREAM IS TO
WORK WITH MUSIC.
GENERATIONCHANGE
In t
he n
igh
tlig
ht
W
e st
illS
hin
e br
igh
t
p. 20
LAUREN21
Connecticut, United States
I have more goals and aspirations than I can count, and I am never satisfied with myself, but I am incredibly happy this way.
i am unique because
i would rather not
have a television
I LOVE:honorathletics& architecture
I HATE:arrogance and maliceclose-minded people
& bad manners
p. 21
Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.
tGEORGE ORWELL
22Massachusetts, United States
KIM
I really can stand when people say
“good” instead of “well,” when
“well” is grammatically correct.
I also dislike peas & being bored.
If I got a tattoo, it
would be a little
girl in rain boots,
splashing in a puddle.
I’m unique because I’ve accepted that I’m not, but I can be a little strange around the edges.
If I didn’t push myself to the level that I do, no one else would, because they don’t really care.
p. 23
22Saar, Bahrain
PAM
i really can’t stand jealousy,
show offs, or people with no
sense of their surroundings.
When it comes to work, I usually think that I could do better and work harder. When it comes to life, I think I could screw up less, care more, do more.
“”
I’M UNIQUE BECAUSE I’VE NEVER KNOWN SOMEONE LIKE ME.
my dream is to mean some-thing to something bigger
p. 24
ALEXA15 Texas, United States
I can’t stand pencils, secrets, or wasting time.
generation free i d o n ’ t s w e a t t h e s m a l l s t u f f , b u t i d o
t a k e t h i n g s t h a t w i l l a f f e c t m y i n t e r n a l b e i n g o r f u t u r e s u c c e s s v e r y s e r i o u s l y .“ “
MY DREAM IS TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND FAMILY.
If I got a tattoo, I would get some-thing meaningful, maybe a flower.
p. 25
19Connecticut, United States
CHRISTOPER
GENERATION
I’m unique because I am good with my hands.
MY DREAM ISTO BECOME ANELECTRICIAN
p. 26
18 Connecticut, United States
ANNIE
I’m the kind of person who likes to make a name for myself in a large group of people. I’ve always pushed myself to stand out, which I think a lot of young people in this generation value as well.
my dream is to go to
south africa for the
world cup this summer
I really hate:
wet straw wrappers
chewed gum
wet socks
generationexpression
p. 27
20Pennsylvania, United States
MARK
I Love:
Family and Friends
Music
& Books
generationundefined
my dream is to be
happy & comfortable
p. 28
HILARY21
Illinois, United States
“”
I believe every action or intention should be really meaningful and not for a “whatever” reason. I want to make everything worth it!
I love:
my mommy
fashion—accessories & shoes
and BIG cities
I hate:
ignorant peoplevermin
and public affection
generation:groundbreakingfree-spiritedavant gardecarelessunconventional
p. 29
MICHAEL22New York, United States
Perfection is ba
sically a necess
ity when
it comes to thin
gs that really m
atter.
I love my mother,
my friends,
my ipod &
I can’t stand obnoxious
people, stupid people, and
when people chew really loudly
if i get a tattoo, it will be my company’s logo
p. 30
AARON17 Texas, United States
I am unique because I am me, rather than me with the input of others.
I DISLIKE:Being alone Judgement before knowing someoneAddiction
If I got a tattoo, it would either be an eye on my hand, or “Carpe Diem” across my back.
generation chill
p. 31
22Texas, United States
CAITLYN
My dream is to live life to the fullest,
love everyone around me, and be
happy with wherever life may lead me.“ ”
I Cannot Stand:
War & Violence
Arrogance
Rush Hour Traffic
CAITLYN
I already have a tattoo, but if I get another, it’s going to be the word “Agape,” which is the Greek word for Love, with a cross. It would be a symbol of my faith, hope, and love in Christ.
GENERATION
I certainly don’t have to be the best, but I want to be at the top, and it’s hard for me to accept myself when I’m not up there with the best. It doesn’t tear me down to be this way, it builds me up to do better and to be better, if that makes sense :)
p. 32
NATALIE18 Connecticut, United States
helping other people
i love:
I can’t stand condiments, tabloid magazines, or people who impose their opinions on you.
I feel like there are two parts of me: the hardwork-ing, dedicated half and the extreme procrastinator half. There will always be room to improve, but I just try to stay motivated. As long as I get the job done or I’m helping someone out, I feel accomplished; and that’s really important to me.
“”
generation regenerate!?!?!
p. 33
One generation plants the trees,and the other gets the shade.
tCHINESE PROVERB
19Copenhagen, Denmark
KAHLAi can’t stand the close minded attitudes of elder generations.
I’m going to get a koi fish tattoo to represent the peace and serenity that I lack, but desperately wish to command.
Generation Y
p. 35
16Connecticut, United States
SARAH
my dream is to be happy
GENERATIONCOMMUNICATION
I try not to put too much pressure on myself. I feel enough pressure from the world...but that doesn’t mean that when I fall I don’t fall hard.
p. 36
KRISTEN21Texas, United States
I love good food (includes but is not limited to BBQ, Krispy Kreme, Oatmeal Creme Pies & Mom’s cooking), Texas Football, Carolina Basketball, and my phone, because let’s be honest, I’d be hopeless without it.
“”
I can’t stand:Rude people (if you discover a way to relocate them all to some faraway island, let me know)
Bump Its (that ridiculous hair trend—you’ve seen the late night infomercials)
Physics (its been a rough semester)
I have a tattoo that s
ays,
Pura Vida, and I would
get another
p. 37
RYAN20 Washington, United States
GENERATIONCONSUMED BY A POPULAR CULTURE
Earth, as well as the rest of the universe
I’m unique because how could a person not be?
I can’t stand:
popular culture
money
or greed
p. 38
21Texas, United States
LAURA
I absolutely cannot stand:Harry Pottercockroachesalarm clocks
generation progressI’m unique becauseChrist made me that way.
p. 39
19Texas, United States
GINEEN
or fighting
my dream is to
i’am unique because i am genuine
I love music, friends & dancing
p. 40
TRAVIS15Texas, United States
I hate people who
can’t get their heads
out of their butts,
annoying people, and
people who cannot
chill out
generation technology
i am somewhat hard on
myself for most things, as
i have been brought up in a
family where i am punished
for bad grades.
p. 41
21Texas, United States
SHELLEY
I love: Jesus Christ, people
& the beauty of nature
generationprogress
p. 42
HILARY21
Texas, United States
I HATE:irresponsible peoplewhen my daughter gets sick& fighting with people
I have 10 tattoos.
..
my last one was my
daughter’s footpri
nt,
with her name and
date
of birth around it
.
generation inf luence
Everything happens for a reason. As long as I’m doing the best that I can with the resources that I was given, I can accept any mistakes or accomplishments that come my way.
p. 43
17Connecticut, United States
ANASTASIA
If I got a tattoo, I would get an owl or a blue heron, and have lyrics or words in the feathers.
i am unique because i try
and look at things from
every perspective.
I can’t deal with getting a grade below a B...I have to succeed in life.
I love Concerts
Hippies
& The Disco Biscuits
p. 44
15Texas, United States
EMILY
I know that choices I make will affect my future.
I love
weekends
the internet
& new things
generation accepting
i am unique because i am emily lane.
p. 45
Each generation wants new symbols, new people, new names.They want to divorce themselves from their predecessors.
tJIM MORRISON
23Connecticut, United States
GREG
I DISLIKE FAST FOOD, SUVS & FRATERNITIES
generationWi-Fi
If you’re passionate about what you do, your road to meet high standards can have a negative effect on your state of mind...I am always trying to come up with healthier ways of turning being hard on myself into stronger, more positive self motivation.
“
”
If I got a tattoo it would have to
combine my love for music, life,
and an inspirational concept into
one discreet, yet unique graphic.
p. 47
KARINA17 Texas, United States
I simply cannot stand:Hannah MontanaScreamo musicLots of people
I’M UNIQUE BECAUSE I HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING FOR ME.
Whenever I can’t do something on the first try, I get upset, when I shouldn’t. This is how much pressure (and more) our generation has.
My dream is to find the best college, get a fun but well paying job doing what I love to do, and eventually live happily every after, for the most part anyways.
p. 48
ETHAN19
New Jersey, United States
My dream is to play the Tchaikovsky
violin concerto in C
arnegie Hall.
GENERATION 2.0
These days, where knowledge is constantly being commoditized, I feel that the value of just knowing “things” is constantly going down. The only thing that keeps me from becoming just another walking, talking, incomplete wikipedia, is holding myself to my OWN standards...It feels a whole lot better than working for someone who doesn’t care.
“”
If I get a tattoo, the subject matter will be music.
p. 49
21Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
ALEXANDER
my dream is to become important because i did something significant.
I AM
UN
IQU
E B
EC
AU
SE
TH
ER
E IS
NO
BO
DY
TH
IRS
TIE
R.
p. 50
JUSTIN21
New Jersey, United States
i love:the beachcoffeewhiskey
i hate:bad coffeeholes in my sockspink floyd
I have tattoos... Ideas for more: Mr.PennybagsRock ‘em Sock ‘em RobotsThe Iron GiantDia de los Muertos
my dream is to not starve
GENERATION
CONSUMER
AMNOTHARD
I
ON
MYSELF
p. 51
MY DREAM IS TO BE A DJ
I’m unique because I do what I want, and I do not tailor my actions, thoughts, or ideologies for those around me. If they concur, great, if not, I won’t change.
“ “
Let Be.
GENERATION
Open-Minded
HEIDI22 Texas, United States
p. 52
LAUREN20
Connecticut, United States
I hate slow movies, depression (and how it ruins so many good things for people), and war.
I love:friendshipgoing out for sushibaking
generation create
I feel like I need to finish something, do something big, be in a better school, have perfect grades, make more money, have the perfect relationship...
p. 53
KATHLEEN17New Jersey, United States
I LOVE
MUSIC
SAILINGVOLUNTEERING
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
KEY CLUB
i can’t stand drama, rude people, or having
nothing to do. I just hate being lazy.
my dream is to make a difference
generation expression
p. 54
19New Mexico, United States
EMILY
I love my fiancé, Daniel, and everything about him,
I love any kind of berries, and I love keeping fit.
Exercising and eating right makes me feel good!
generation entertainment
I know I am unique because I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am also different because I am homeschooled, but I also attended the New Mexico Junior College full time. I will be graduating from high school, and getting two associates degrees in May 2010. And I’m getting married in July!
i can’t stand Obama, cantaloupe, or
the sitting part of traveling (it makes
me drowsy and I get carsick)
“
”
p. 55
25Texas, United States
LINDSAY
i can’t
stand:
the heal
thcare s
ystem
american
rail sy
stems
& inflexi
bility
i am unique because i am open-minded,
spiritual & capable
generation: gnrtn. lol.
p. 56
MIKE16
Connecticut, United States
GENERATIONDUMBASS
i love:people & friendshappy relationships& running
i simply can’t stand:drugs and alcohol
when someone doesn’t believe you &stupid decisions
my dream is to get a good job that will let me support my family
p. 57
Every generation needs a new revolution.
tTHOMAS JEFFERSON
17Connecticut, United States
ANDREW
I can’t stand:People with bad intentionsPeople who are unaware of their surroundingsUsing alcohol as the basis of social eventsOr academic homework
generationawesome
my dream is to share my
passions with the world.
If there is something worth pursuing, I am ambitious. I put effort into things that make me happy and that will better my life.
p. 59
HOLLIS21
Texas, United States
Three things that I
cherish are my cat, Prince, my
baby blanket,
and my grandmother’s ring
i want a four
leaf clover
tattoo...i’m
irish and my
brother has
that tattoo
generationevolution
my dream is to be successful
p. 60
CHLOE19Kentucky, United States
I Love:Disney Movies
‘90s Television
Good Music
I am uni
que beca
use I
trip ove
r flat su
rfaces.
my dream is to
be happy.
I simply cannot stand freezing cold wind, people who walk slowly, or ignorance.
p. 61
20New Mexico, United States
ZACH
I Love:Red ChileMomMusic
I cannot stand:
my cell phone
other people’s cell phones
& people who chew gum loudly
i believe that i hold myself to higher standards than anyone could hold me to.
p. 62
20Pennsylvania, United States
NICK
I love:
family
running & sports
friends
My dream is to go to the 2012
and 2016 Olympics.
I’m hard on myself all the time because I am always trying to be the best person I can be everyday, even if I have a bad day.“
”
I disike drama, people who complain
too much, and soar losers/winners.
p. 63
22Texas, United States
NATALIE
I am unique
because God made
me exactly who I am
i absolutely cannot
stand hatred
apathy or cruelty
My dream is to become a doctor and study infectious
diseases. I want to work in an area where little medical
care is available and improve healthcare in these areas.
I hold myself to the standards set by Christ: to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. God asks me to give my best to Him, and that includes my best work, my best use of time and energy,
and all the love in my heart. God is faithful in giving me grace
to love others and to love myself, even when I am not successful
by our society’s standards.
p. 64
SARA17Connecticut, United States
i am unique because i blend
so many interests together
generation green
If I don’t succeed at something it upsets me and may take me a long time to move on. I am to an extent a perfectionist.
p. 65
21Paris, France
MORGANE
I LOVEFRIENDS & FAMILY
THE ARTSMY PHONE
I can’t stand waiting, narrow
mindedness, or the cold.
generation me! me! me!
I am unique because there is no one who can express and say what or how I feel better than I can. I also feel that I am not afraid to stand up for things that I believe in.“
”
my dream is to leave a mark, may it be
in my work as a performer/composer, or
amongst my friends and family.
p. 66
SONICA25California, United States
i dislike: weakness, as it pertains to some people who make the choice to disengage with their integrity, violence for violence sake (physical, verbal, mental, etc.) and New York City when it smells really bad
generation yall of the new technologies
were part of our unbringing
p. 67
HANNAH19
Pennsylvania, United States
i l o v e :m y t r u e f r i e n d sm y f a m i l y& m y c e l l p h o n e
i s i m p l y c a n ’ t s t a n d :f a k e p e o p l e
l i a r s & p e o p l e w h o s p e a k b e f o r e t h e y t h i n k
GENERATIONFACEBOOK
p. 68
ASPEN15Texas, United States
my dream is to
be successful.
I hate:
gaming systemssmokers
GENERATION MEDIA FRENZY
p. 69
Every generation renews itself in its own way; there's always a reaction against whatever is standard.
tSOL LEWITT
17Connecticut, United States
JOHN
I CANNOT STAND: Tea-Baggers, Greed, or Fox News
I love good pizza, true love, and people making sense
p. 71
16New York, United States
KAT
I really can’t stand:Students that disrespect their teachers for no reasonPlanned hook upsGoing to the grocery store while hungry
I’m unique because I never
fight with my siblings
I feel like in order to succeed in today’s world, you have to hold yourself to high standards—no matter what that means. The standards themselves are individual, but I think it’s important that everyone have goals because without something to reach for, the present becomes unimportant.
Generation Change the World
my dream is to be happy with whatever situation i end up in.
“”
p. 72
LAURA21
Texas, United States
i love family &
friends
I simply cannot stand:
Video Games, Sims & SmackingOur society and peers reinforce a constant need to get ahead, make money, etc. While they set high standards, I feel many individuals, including myself, set even higher personal standards. I think it is tied to my competitiveness, although that may not be the same case for others.
p. 73
Texas, United States22
ERIN p. 74
ANASTASIA21
Moscow, Russia
My dream is to be successful, be loved, and be needed in the world.
I simply cannot stand BS, letting people down, or loneliness
i’ve spent the better part of my life chastising myself for many different things...however, maybe it’s deserved.
“”
generatio
n seeks-to-kno
w-everything
p. 75
21Tokyo, Japan
TAKAYO
I SIMPLY CANNOT STANDWASABI, PROPOGATION, ORTECHNICAL PROBLEMS WITH COMPUTERS
generationmix culture
my dream is to die happily
p. 76
19Connecticut, United States
JASON
Sometimes I feel like people don’t want to accept the future. In my opinion, it is no wonder why the world is the way it is today. I am hard on myself because I want to accept change and adapt. No one else seems to do the same, so I feel alone.
i am uniq
ue because i lo
ok at thing
s in all lights,
not just the o
ne that makes m
e feel go
od
.
GENERATION CHANGE
I CAN’T STAND ARROGANCE, GREED, OR POLLUTION.
I LOVECOMPUTERS
VIDEO GAMESNATURE
p. 77
21Paris, France
NOELLA
MY DREAM IS TO MAKE THE COOLEST CARTOONS FOR TV
I have highexpectations for myself and hope to get there.“ “
I Love Tea, Animation, & Cats.
GENERATIONMANGA
I hate being sick, machos, and idiots
p. 78
MICHELLE22
Illinois, United States
I think we have to hold ourselves to high standards if we want to succeed and achieve our goals, but on the other hand, I think the standards we have to live up to, in some ways, are not near as high or hard as they have been in the past. Our generation has a new wave of wanting to be productive in changing people’s lives and I think those who are focused on that hold themselves to a very high standard.
“
”
i’m unique because i am a listener, observer & reflector.
GENERATION PRIVILEGE
p. 79
21Rhode Island, United States
JASON
I am unique because there are two sides to my story and my life that no one else really knows.
Regardless of what others perceive, they rarely ever know the entire truth of how I view the world.
p. 80
TRAVIS16
Texas, United States
I have expectations that I have met before, and I expect myself to be able to repeat those results. I am disappointed when things don’t go my way, but I know I can do better, and so I push myself to do better.
i am unique because i
think outside the box.
i like to try different
ways of accomplishing goals
and meeting standards.
my dream is to be
the best i can be
in this life and to
make a difference
in this world
p. 81
The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.
tWILLIAM JAMES
BRENDAN21
Pennsylvania, United States
My dream is to know God and make him known through any variety of media, establishing his kingdom and purposes on Earth, convincing people of his astound-ing goodness and love, and helping peo-ple see the monumental purpose in their lives and all of creation/existence.
“”
I dislike:
Arrogance/Close Mindedness
Television
Advertising/Corporate Culture
BRENDANp. 83
21Connecticut, United States
CAITLIN
I love music from the Baroque Period (I love me some Vivaldi!), I love traveling to non-tourist destinations (Tanzania & Israel are two of my favorites so far!), and I love playing my flute! Especially Telemann, the rythmic structure is very relaxing to me.
I AM UNIQUE BECAUSE I AM NOT AFRAID TO ATTEMPT PROJECTS OR GO PLACES THAT OTHERS MIGHT VIEW AS LUDACRIS OR DANGEROUS
I really can’t stand nuts in my desserts,
staring at the computer screen for any more
than an hour, or passive agressive behavior.
Stand up for what you believe!
If I got a tattoo, it would
be a G-Clef, somewhere
inconspicuous.
p. 84
HENRY17
New York, United States
If I got a
tattoo, i
t would be
“4, 8, 15,
16, 23, 4
2,” the LO
ST
numbers—symbo
lizing mys
tery.
I hate people who scuff their feet when they walk, people who don’t do anything to better their situation, and when the internet goes out.
p. 85
AMANDA21
Georgia, United States
I love my external hard drive,
very large cups of coffee & my Asics
(I think the quality and design
thought in a good pair of running
shoes is pretty incredible.
I hate cell phones, and I wish that I didn’t have to have one. I really don’t like answering my phone and I ignore it a lot, which just makes people mad. I wish there was no such thing as call-ing—just texting. Texting is enough to cover the extent of what I want my phone conversations to be like, unless it is an emergency.
“
”
GENERATIONTHINK
p. 86
BEN21
Texas, United States
i hate:slow driversold peopledrama
I have 3 tattoos. My favorite is the eagle on
my left shoulder, which is a representation
of my grandfather’s service in the Air Force.
generation
exploration
p. 87
22Texas, United States
CLARISSA
Sometimes I set unreasonable goals for
myself and will work myself into the
ground trying to accomplish those goals.
I do not accept my own failures well.
generationdream
and achieve
I am unique because I love rural life and believe that the arts can survive and thrive in rural areas if people are passionate about sharing their arts with younger generations...my dream is to empower young people through the theatre arts.
p. 88
STEPHANIE22
Pennsylvania, United States
I love my cellphone, my
computer, and my dog
generation equality
I am unique because I’m different and I don’t care what people think!
I always try to do everything to my fullest
potential to get the most out of everything.
p. 89
DAVIS22
Texas, United States
I LOVE:
FAMILY
FRIENDS
FOOTBALL
i am unique because
everyone told me i was
special in grade school
p. 90
BRIANA16 Connecticut, United States
I can’t stand:Spiders
LiarsDrugs
GENERATIONFACEBOOK
i’m unique bec
ause i don’t
always fit
the norm.
If i got a tattoo, it would be a small heart on my wrist.
p. 91
21 New Jersey, United States
MAYA
I’m very hard on myself. But that’s how we better ourselves, by never being complacent with the work we’ve done. There is always a new way to go at a problem. That’s the best way to learn, I think, by always assuming there is a better way.
“”
I’M UNIQUE BECAUSE WE ALL ARE
GENERATIONThere’s this song by Metric called
‘Twilight Galaxy’ and it goes, “I’m higher than high, lower than deep, I’m doing it wrong, singing along!”I think that means that you just need to keep going, and do things wrong, and have that be a really necessary and wonderful part of everything—just don’t stop!
p. 92
19Connecticut, United States
AUDRA
i hate:tomatoesignorance &hair not attached to bodies
If I get a tattoo, the subject
matter will be classic artwork,
like Dali or Art Nouveau, or
something I drew myself.
generation right now
I am incredibly hard on myself. People are working their fingers to the bone each day for recognition because daily tasks are becoming competitive. I honor the value of my work, not the praise I receive for it. I feel like my work ethic is unparalleled by most people in my age range.
p. 93
Each generation goes further than the generation preceding itbecause it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will
have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.
tRONALD REAGAN
AVALON21 Texas, United States
I hate:being coldfeeling anxious& wasting time
my dream is to love, to be loved, and to create things that generate
happiness & excitement.
I’M UNIQUE BECAUSE I’VE BROKEN BOTH OF MY ARMS—TWICE!
I’m very driven.Doing everything to
the best of my ability is deeply important to me. I
often look to the future and I believe in doing things that enrich my life and the planet.
I love surrounding myself with positive people, staying active, living a vegetarian
lifestyle, and creating art. I also love travel
and exploring new cultures.
p. 95
To everyone who participated in
my survey, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
This book would not exist without you.
To New York City:
Thank you.
I love you.
To Chy & Lexa, for being the greatest sisters on Earth. Thank you for always being there. I love you!
To Mom, for always believing in me, and for teaching me that every problem has a creative solution.
To Julia, thank you for being an amazing teacher. Your creative expertise is truly appreciated.
To Grandma, for your constant love & support.
thank you for sharing your art with me.