Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008 - (Page 15)

This generation does not see life, much less a job, like anyone from a previous generation. It is difficult to instill in them that a solid work ethic is imperative when the world around them says that they can get what they want without it. the Millenniums, Generation w w w, the Digital Generation, Generation E, Echo Boomers, N-Gens, Nexters and, most often, Generation Y. However, ask these young people to define themselves, and you will hear such labels as the Non-Nuclear Family Generation, the Nothing-Is-Sacred Generation, the Wannabes, the Feel Good Generation, CyberKids, the Do-or-Die Generation a nd t he Sea rch i ng-for-a n-Ident it y Generation (Martin and Tulgan, 2001). Truths About Nexters Among us there is now an entire generation whose perceptions of information, realit y, aut hor it y, respect, pr iv ilege, r ules, cult ure, r ight and wrong are vastly different from those of the people who’ve gone before them (Chester, 2002). This generation refuses to do “the what” before they know “the why.” It has been said that this generation filters out every command, every request and every instruction that is not bundled with acceptable rationale. According to Chester (2002), whether it is working with them, trying to get service from them or living with them, this generation has continued to ask questions, such as, “Why should I tell the truth, obey the rules and do as I’m told? Furthermore, why should I go to school, study hard and get a job?” >>16 Just who are these aliens? They are members of the fourteenth American generation. T hey’re self-conf ident, optimistic, independent and goal-oriented. These aliens are masters of the Internet and personal computers. These are individuals who believe education is cool, integrity is admirable and parents are role models. This generation is blunt, savvy and contradictory. They defy easy labeling and exact param- eters. These are the more than 60 million children of the baby boomers, the upbeat, younger siblings of Generation X and the more than 29 million young adults who have been streaming into the workplace over the last five years and whose presence will continue to grow every year for the next decade. This generation is also one for which demographers are unable to agree on a defining label. They have been called First Quarter 2008 • 15

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008 Contents From the President Afterburn: Nexters' Impact in the Workplace Retirement Will Have to Wait From Sewage, Added Water for Drinking Rural Water and the Farm Bill Fiduciary Responsibility: It's All About Trust Water Industry Supports International Rural Water Association Regulatory Update The Rural Water Washington Rally in April Throwing My Loop A Precious Thing Called Water Index to Advertisers Advertisers.com From the CEO

Rural Water - Quarter 1, 2008

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