Why I Love the Millennials

The so-called Millenial Generation takes a lot of criticism. Can’t write. Can’t read (anything longer than a computer screen). Can’t focus (on one thing for more than 15 minutes).

As someone born right at the end of the Baby Boom Generation and the beginning of Generation X, I write today to stand up for the Millenials. Sure, growing up in a technology saturated culture creates real challenges for writing, reading, and focus. But I know many Millenials who are great writers, readers, and thinkers.

What I love most about the Millenials, though—at least the ones I see at this law school—is their heart for serving others. They value community. And they take very seriously their responsibility to serve others in that community. When they see a need, they look for ways to jump in and meet that need.

I see this heart to serve in the law school applications and student resumes I read. Who knows where they found the time, but most of our students come with multiple experiences in leadership and service roles—in their churches, schools, and communities. I would be embarrassed to show our students my resume from the same point in life!

I hear this heart to serve when I talk with our students. They are in law school because they want to make a difference in their world.

I have been sharing our vision for a Center for Global Justice and Human Rights in many settings—chapel, International Law Students meeting, at undergraduate schools while recruiting, the Rotary Club, a luncheon for donors. As I share the vision with our students and prospective students, I find it resonates with what God has already put on their own hearts. I am convinced that God has raised up a generation of men and women who will combat human trafficking, child abuse, and genocide in a large-scale and meaningful way. I believe God has raised them up, as he did Esther in Persia, “for such a time as this.”

What an honor to have some role in training this generation. I can’t wait to see what they will do.