Generation Me?: December Issue of "News From Hope College" Published
Five times a year I get the opportunity to write to readers of the college magazine, "News from Hope College". Below is my latest column. Let me know what you think or if you have ideas for future columns in the comment section. Read the issue in its entirety here. In 2007, Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D. published Generation Me, in which she asserts that today’s students are more self-centered than ever before. While she presents compelling research, as I look around Hope’s campus something doesn’t add up. The actions and attitudes of Hope students shows a generation that is anything but narcissistic. Whereas Twenge sees a GenMe that is “straightforward and unapologetic about their self-focus,” I see a generation aware of the challenges in the world and quick to lend a hand. Allow me to present some of the evidence:
• Since 1968 and 1987 respectively, Hope students have tutored at-risk students in the community through Upward Bound and CASA.
• Each spring, hundreds of Hope students can be found serving during spring break in places ranging from California to New York and from Guatemala to India.
• For the past four years an interdisciplinary group of students have traveled to Nkuv, Cameroon to bring clean water technology and health education.
• Hope is in the top-10 nationwide among small colleges and universities in producing Peace Corps Volunteers among its graduates. The evidence is impressive (more on pages six-nine), but are all of these students really serving selflessly, or is there something in it for them? As a sophomore at Hope I had the opportunity to experience first hand the symbiotic effects of service learning. Preparing for a trip to Chiapas, Mexico, I left with a self-righteous attitude, departing to serve those less fortunate than I. After working with and befriending residents of San Cristobal de las Casas, I realized that I had much to learn. In fact, the cultural understanding and friendships that continue to this day proved not only beneficial in classroom discussions, but enriched and enlightened my entire life. As experiences like these continually happen each semester at Hope, today’s students are concurrently serving selflessly…and learning selfishly. Perhaps they are part of Generation Me after all.
• Since 1968 and 1987 respectively, Hope students have tutored at-risk students in the community through Upward Bound and CASA.
• Each spring, hundreds of Hope students can be found serving during spring break in places ranging from California to New York and from Guatemala to India.
• For the past four years an interdisciplinary group of students have traveled to Nkuv, Cameroon to bring clean water technology and health education.
• Hope is in the top-10 nationwide among small colleges and universities in producing Peace Corps Volunteers among its graduates. The evidence is impressive (more on pages six-nine), but are all of these students really serving selflessly, or is there something in it for them? As a sophomore at Hope I had the opportunity to experience first hand the symbiotic effects of service learning. Preparing for a trip to Chiapas, Mexico, I left with a self-righteous attitude, departing to serve those less fortunate than I. After working with and befriending residents of San Cristobal de las Casas, I realized that I had much to learn. In fact, the cultural understanding and friendships that continue to this day proved not only beneficial in classroom discussions, but enriched and enlightened my entire life. As experiences like these continually happen each semester at Hope, today’s students are concurrently serving selflessly…and learning selfishly. Perhaps they are part of Generation Me after all.
