Teenagers and Twenty-somethings are being described as members of the “me- generation”. A generation overpowered by narcissism and generally lacking humility. Raina Kelley, from Newsweek, describes in my contemporaries as “ego-addled, spoiled brats” and “hot house flowers puffed with disproportionate senses of self worth” . This past semester, class discussions often touched on our current, disconnected generation. Students and professors commonly agreed that individuals are becoming more self-centered and less concerned about their community. People remain confined within the bubbles of their individual lives, constantly working to get a raise or receive the best possible grade, yet not caring about the well-being of others. Everyone seemed to accept this theory of the “me-generation”, without much question or critique. Yet, I found myself in sharp disagreement, especially after helping to organize a fundraiser to support children in Calcutta.
I was able to organize a benefit open-mic night at a local coffeehouse this past semester, only because of the enormous support and help from other students. At first, I doubted many students would attend. After all, aren’t we the “me-generation”? I thought most students would be too busy, too lazy, or simply not care enough to attend the event. But, I was wrong.
The coffeehouse was packed with students. There was not an inch of free space to stand, let alone to sit and enjoy a latte. A vast array of students performed: Kevin Manning showed us his magic tricks, student-comedian Vinny Pagano filled the spare space with laughter, Alexa Warshany left people breathless as she sang and played guitar, and both the female and male a cappella groups sang some tunes. The coffeehouse was filled with music, laughter, and conversation from nine until midnight. This could not have been done without students like Courtney Meek, who tracked down talented students who would be willing to perform, or Lauren Goodman, who designed a beautiful flyer to publicize the event. It was the collective and collaborative action of students, who took a break from their personal lives and to-do lists, that made this event such a huge success.
By the end of the night, we were able to raise two hundred and sixty dollars in donations for the newly formed Calcutta Children’s Project. This project supports the educational, medical, and nutritional needs of about fifty children living and working in a small, contained dump in Calcutta. The money we raised was enough to send all the children to school for one year.
As I sat on the arm of a sofa in the dimly lit coffeehouse and observed students empty their wallets above the donation basket, or cheer for a nervous friend who was about to perform, I realized that this event was more than just a successful fundraiser. It was proof that our generation does not consist of self-centered and hyper-competitive individuals. It consists of people who are willing to humbly give to others, connect with others, and support each other. It was proof of how the “me-generation” is a big, fat lie.
-Sam
