Student Leaders of Tomorrow “Expectations of Millennials” Dave Reed Department of Horticultural...

Student Leaders of TomorrowStudent Leaders of Tomorrow

““Expectations of Millennials”Expectations of Millennials”

Dave ReedDave Reed

Department of Horticultural SciencesDepartment of Horticultural Sciences

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

ExpectationsExpectations







What are yourWhat are your“Expectations” of “College”?“Expectations” of “College”?

What should “College” give youWhat should “College” give youthat will allow you to become the that will allow you to become the

““Best You Can Be”?Best You Can Be”?


List 4 of your “Expectations” of CollegeList 4 of your “Expectations” of College

To determine your expectations, think To determine your expectations, think about the following: about the following:

•What do I hope to get out of college? What do I hope to get out of college?

•What skill, characteristic or attribute do What skill, characteristic or attribute do I think I need to start a career?I think I need to start a career?

•What will make me employable?What will make me employable?


List 4 of your “Expectations” of CollegeList 4 of your “Expectations” of CollegeTo develop your list, think about the following:To develop your list, think about the following:

What do I hope to get out of college?What do I hope to get out of college?What skill, characteristic or attribute do I need to What skill, characteristic or attribute do I need to

start a career?start a career?What will make me employable?What will make me employable?

1) __________________________________________1) __________________________________________2)___________________________________________2)___________________________________________3)___________________________________________3)___________________________________________4) ___________________________________________4) ___________________________________________


Setting Expectations for FreshmanSetting Expectations for Freshman

2004 Freshman Convocation2004 Freshman Convocation

““Become the Best You Can Be”Become the Best You Can Be”


•Courses and GradesCourses and Grades

•ExperienceExperience

•People Skills and NetworkingPeople Skills and Networking

•Teamsmanship and Leadership PotentialTeamsmanship and Leadership Potential


Courses and GradesCourses and Grades““You are going to have to maintain a minimum You are going to have to maintain a minimum

of a 2.0 GPR or we will ask you to leave - of a 2.0 GPR or we will ask you to leave - bummer!”bummer!”

““However, you need to strive to maintain your However, you need to strive to maintain your grades as high as possible, because the higher grades as high as possible, because the higher

your grades the more career opportunities will your grades the more career opportunities will be available to you upon graduation.”be available to you upon graduation.”


ExperienceExperience““Whenever I bring students to visit industry Whenever I bring students to visit industry

leaders, I always ask: leaders, I always ask:

What is the first thing you look for when hiring What is the first thing you look for when hiring employees?employees?

What do you think they always say?”What do you think they always say?”

““Experience”Experience”


People Skills and NetworkingPeople Skills and Networking““Can you apply your academic knowledge and work Can you apply your academic knowledge and work

experience in an interactive world of incredibly diverse experience in an interactive world of incredibly diverse people?”people?”

““If you are that quiet, somewhat introverted, wall If you are that quiet, somewhat introverted, wall flower, you need to flower, you need to blossomblossom.”.”

““If you are that braggadocio know-it-all, you need to If you are that braggadocio know-it-all, you need to tone it down and tone it down and learn to listen morelearn to listen more.”.”


Teamsmanship and Leadership PotentialTeamsmanship and Leadership Potential““Can you put your academic skills, work Can you put your academic skills, work experience and people skills together to experience and people skills together to

accomplish tasks?”accomplish tasks?”

““Finally, you need to become a team player and Finally, you need to become a team player and a potential leader.”a potential leader.”


Final ChallengeFinal Challenge“… “… to begin using this Learning Community to begin using this Learning Community and the opportunities available to you … to and the opportunities available to you … to

build yourself into the build yourself into the

““Total PackageTotal Package” ”

and become and become

““The Best You Can BeThe Best You Can Be””


How many of the expectations you listed How many of the expectations you listed fall under one of these categories?fall under one of these categories?

•Courses and GradesCourses and Grades

•ExperienceExperience

•People Skills and NetworkingPeople Skills and Networking

•Teamsmanship and Leadership PotentialTeamsmanship and Leadership Potential


I have come to realize that these are I have come to realize that these are “My Expectations”“My Expectations”, ,

which reflect the Expectations of thewhich reflect the Expectations of theFading Fading “Baby Boomers”“Baby Boomers” & &

Current Current “Generation X”“Generation X”..Therefore, I am imposing the Expectations of Therefore, I am imposing the Expectations of

“My Generation”“My Generation” on that of on that of ““Your Generation”Your Generation”


We must ask the question:We must ask the question:

What are the Expectations of What are the Expectations of

““Your Generation”?Your Generation”?

And, where they “clash”,And, where they “clash”,

we must resolve the conflict!we must resolve the conflict!

GenerationsGenerations

What is “Your Generation”?What is “Your Generation”?You are the kids, primarily of Generation X, born since You are the kids, primarily of Generation X, born since

1980, and who currently are infusing colleges. 1980, and who currently are infusing colleges.

““Millennials”Millennials”

““Generation Y”Generation Y”

““Echo Boomers” Echo Boomers”

““Generation Dot Com”Generation Dot Com”

Baby Boomers (40s-50s)Baby Boomers (40s-50s)

Generation X (60-70s)Generation X (60-70s)

MillennialsMillennials



Millennials (80s+)Millennials (80s+)

Generations ChangeGenerations Change


Let’s Characterize the “Millennials”Let’s Characterize the “Millennials”primarily fromprimarily from

Neil Howe & William Strauss, Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising – The Next GenerationMillennials Rising – The Next Generation

A Little Bit About the Environment and TimesA Little Bit About the Environment and Timesin Which Millennials Grew Upin Which Millennials Grew Up

•most watched over generation in historymost watched over generation in history•most protected generation in historymost protected generation in history•came along at a time when adults came along at a time when adults

started re-valuing kidsstarted re-valuing kids•came along at a time when parents made came along at a time when parents made

time to spend with their kidstime to spend with their kids•have been exposed to advanced technology in have been exposed to advanced technology in

every aspect of their lifeevery aspect of their life•have been exposed to an internet world with no have been exposed to an internet world with no

boundariesboundaries


MillennialsMillennials Experiences and Characteristics?Experiences and Characteristics?

Let’s outline what you have experienced Let’s outline what you have experienced in life and the characteristics these in life and the characteristics these experiences have imparted in you.experiences have imparted in you.

MillennialsMillennials Which Describe Your Which Describe Your

Experiences and Characteristics?Experiences and Characteristics?

•Heavily programmed activities by parents, Heavily programmed activities by parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc. guardians, teachers, coaches, organizations, etc.

•Like working on projects and activities in teams.Like working on projects and activities in teams.

•Like team based rewards/grades/recognition.Like team based rewards/grades/recognition.

•Don’t like to keep score .Don’t like to keep score . (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in (no “winners” or “MVP”, rather the reward is in the “participation” and “experience” gained) the “participation” and “experience” gained)



•Like immediate recognition Like immediate recognition (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end (star on helmet or at-a-boy for good play versus end of season, activity or class reward) of season, activity or class reward)

•Consider your parent or guardian your “friend”.Consider your parent or guardian your “friend”.

•Believe your parent or guardian “values” you andBelieve your parent or guardian “values” you and enjoys spending time with you. enjoys spending time with you.

•Like to please your parent, guardian, coach, Like to please your parent, guardian, coach, teacher, etc. teacher, etc.



•Your parents like to “play” with you.Your parents like to “play” with you.

•Easily bored if “nothing to do”Easily bored if “nothing to do”

•Not worried about what your life will be like 20 yearsNot worried about what your life will be like 20 years from now. from now.

•Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, Respectful of authority figures (parents, guardians, teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.) teachers, policemen, fire fighters, the President, etc.)

MillennialsMillennials ExpectationsExpectations

Let’s determine how these experiences Let’s determine how these experiences have molded your expectations.have molded your expectations.

MillennialsMillennials Which Describe Your Expectations?Which Describe Your Expectations?

•I expect instant gratification and satisfaction.I expect instant gratification and satisfaction. (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now) (When I do it and want to feel good about it right now)

•I expect immediate feedback. I expect immediate feedback. (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.) (I want to know my score, grade, reward, right now.)

•I expect to be rewarded for participation, not I expect to be rewarded for participation, not individual accomplishment. individual accomplishment. (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment) (I want rewards based on the team’s accomplishment)

•I expect a reward for everything I do.I expect a reward for everything I do. (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions) (I expect a star or trophy for my contributions)


•I expect to rise to the top quickly. I expect to rise to the top quickly. (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” (I expect to make a good salary and be the “boss” while I am still young and can enjoy it.) while I am still young and can enjoy it.)

•I expect to work with teams, friends and positiveI expect to work with teams, friends and positive people, and have fun. people, and have fun. (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.) (I want to like and be liked by my co-workers.)

•I expect to be respected by my teachers, boss and peers.I expect to be respected by my teachers, boss and peers.

•I do not expect my job to control my life and otherI do not expect my job to control my life and other activities. activities.


•I expect to be challenged and learn new skills.I expect to be challenged and learn new skills.

•I expect technology to increase and am very I expect technology to increase and am very comfortable with it. comfortable with it.

•I have optimistic expectations about the future.I have optimistic expectations about the future.

•I expect to volunteer and be civic minded.I expect to volunteer and be civic minded.

Clash of ExpectationsClash of Expectations

Due to different expectations,Due to different expectations,

there is a Clash of Expectations there is a Clash of Expectations

between thebetween the

““Baby Boomers”Baby Boomers” & & “Generation X”“Generation X”

and the and the

““Millennials”Millennials”

Clash of ExpectationsClash of Expectations

Examples of the “Generation Clash”Examples of the “Generation Clash”

Millennials Expect:Millennials Expect:•expect a grade based on how hard they worked, henceexpect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence

expect grade inflationexpect grade inflation

•expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hencenot consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence

do not understand the “Current Generation’s do not understand the “Current Generation’s definition of scholastic dishonestydefinition of scholastic dishonesty


Let’s not end on negatives about Let’s not end on negatives about your generation, the “your generation, the “MillennialsMillennials””

Millennials - PositivesMillennials - Positives

Positives about these “Millennials”Positives about these “Millennials”•violent crime is down violent crime is down

•tobacco and alcohol use are downtobacco and alcohol use are down•teen pregnancy is downteen pregnancy is down

•aptitude test scores are upaptitude test scores are up•optimism about the future is upoptimism about the future is up

•trust of mom & dad, authority and government are uptrust of mom & dad, authority and government are up•you are the best well educated, technologically advanced and you are the best well educated, technologically advanced and

technologically comfortable generation this world has ever technologically comfortable generation this world has ever seen!seen!

Some feel you may become the Some feel you may become the Next Great GenerationNext Great Generation

My New ExpectationsMy New Expectations

It is our job to help you achieve this It is our job to help you achieve this potential!potential!

““We mustWe must learn”learn” how to how to “teach“teach you”you” without sacrificing without sacrificing

““our academic standards”our academic standards”!!

Your New ExpectationsYour New Expectations

You must realize:You must realize:””My Generation” will assign your grades.My Generation” will assign your grades.

“My Generation” will hire you.“My Generation” will hire you.“My Generation” will promote you.“My Generation” will promote you.

You must learn how to live and function inYou must learn how to live and function in“My Generation’s System”“My Generation’s System”

untiluntilYou Become the “Established Generation” You Become the “Established Generation”

and start setting the “Rules”and start setting the “Rules”

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