I thought this was excellent! I'm a Millennial (but born in 1982 so I didn't have a cell phone until I graduated highschool). My sons were born in 2002 & 2003 so these guys are just slightly older. There were several things they said that I've heard my youngest & my oldest talk about (they have completely opposite political views, well o…
I thought this was excellent! I'm a Millennial (but born in 1982 so I didn't have a cell phone until I graduated highschool). My sons were born in 2002 & 2003 so these guys are just slightly older. There were several things they said that I've heard my youngest & my oldest talk about (they have completely opposite political views, well opposite but still within the "norms", they both vote). It was great to get some insight into their minds because, I'm sure most parents understand that my kids aren't jumping at the opportunity to sit down & explain their generation to me.
For example, my youngest, who actually is somewhere on the Left spectrum, joined the ROTC program at his highschool. He worked really hard, Mon-Fri 5am-5pm was his school day for 4 years, he was extremely dedicated. He wanted to have a career in the military. He became the CO for his senior year & was awarded a $160,000 ROTC scholarship for the Marines ROTC. He chose to go to Mizzou but he could've gone to any university that had a Navy Marine ROTC program.
I should've been concerned when he chose Marines instead of Navy (even though his highschool program was Navy) because he didn't want to go into engineering. He struggled with attending classes & keeping his grades up (never was an issue until after COVID) but I thought the ROTC was going well. He, also, frequently said he was a-political & that he just wanted to kill people. I was relieved to hear another kid around his age say that same thing.
Then suddenly, he's home for Christmas break, he goes out with his 2 best friends, who are pretty progressive not that that had anything to do with it) & came back home pretty upset. He wouldn't give me details but they had said something to him about the military & it really impacted him. He, to this day, has never told me about the conversation.
All I know is that Spring 2024 semester when he went back to school was a struggle. He was depressed, he was missing class again (this was his 4th semester) & he really struggled to get through it. He did his summer ROTC program like he was supposed to but something was off.
Suddenly, it's time for him to go back for fall semester & he informs me he thinks he's dropping out. He doesn't want to go to college anymore, he absolutely does not want to go into the military either. Which, I never pushed him to do so. Other than my father in law who fought in Vietnam who has since passed away, we're not a military family. I love the military & I have been so proud of him. But, this was always his decision.
It was just such a sudden & strange change. He wasn't just doing it to get a scholarship, he was passionate about it. His whole room displayed medals & challenge coins & signa he's received & collected. Passwords & nicknames & everything was dedicated to this goal.
Then, suddenly, he just changed his mind. He said that the military isn't what he thought it was. I asked what that meant & he wouldn't give me anymore than that. He still follows the ROTC on Instagram & likes all their posts. But, he dropped out at the start of last fall & to this day I have not been able to understand why.
This podcast today has given me a little more understanding. I mean, it's really fascinating how uniquely different Gen Z is, even from Millennials. My mom was born in 1962 & our childhoods were fairly similar. Not exactly alike but there was no social media when I was in highschool. So, it was a lot of the same.
These kids, it's so completely different. Their mindset is so different. My son has decided he wants to be a chef. Very different from the military. I was skeptical but he seems to think this is a very plausible idea. But, apparently like other kids close to his age, he is ok with figuring it out as he goes.
My oldest is a Trump supporter, he works out & is about to turn 23 & has this big full bushy beard. He is kind of obsessed with masculinity. He has all those characteristics that were mentioned in the podcast.
I think this is going to be a great podcast! I'm really excited for more! Not just for more insight into my own son's but we need to bring in the youth. I'm going to send this episode to my youngest & have him watch it. I think he'll enjoy it.
You’re a lot closer in age to your kids than I am to mine. Your mom was born in 1962–I’m 1957 and my eldest is 1995 which makes him an older Gen Z.
While not always the oldest mom in the class, I was certainly up there. I think that’s why I really enjoy listening to the perspectives of young people. It kinda bridges the age gap.
Interesting story. Interesting because your son's trajectory was almost identical to mine when I was his age (we're talking about late '50s-early '60s). Hope he finds his path.
I thought this was excellent! I'm a Millennial (but born in 1982 so I didn't have a cell phone until I graduated highschool). My sons were born in 2002 & 2003 so these guys are just slightly older. There were several things they said that I've heard my youngest & my oldest talk about (they have completely opposite political views, well opposite but still within the "norms", they both vote). It was great to get some insight into their minds because, I'm sure most parents understand that my kids aren't jumping at the opportunity to sit down & explain their generation to me.
For example, my youngest, who actually is somewhere on the Left spectrum, joined the ROTC program at his highschool. He worked really hard, Mon-Fri 5am-5pm was his school day for 4 years, he was extremely dedicated. He wanted to have a career in the military. He became the CO for his senior year & was awarded a $160,000 ROTC scholarship for the Marines ROTC. He chose to go to Mizzou but he could've gone to any university that had a Navy Marine ROTC program.
I should've been concerned when he chose Marines instead of Navy (even though his highschool program was Navy) because he didn't want to go into engineering. He struggled with attending classes & keeping his grades up (never was an issue until after COVID) but I thought the ROTC was going well. He, also, frequently said he was a-political & that he just wanted to kill people. I was relieved to hear another kid around his age say that same thing.
Then suddenly, he's home for Christmas break, he goes out with his 2 best friends, who are pretty progressive not that that had anything to do with it) & came back home pretty upset. He wouldn't give me details but they had said something to him about the military & it really impacted him. He, to this day, has never told me about the conversation.
All I know is that Spring 2024 semester when he went back to school was a struggle. He was depressed, he was missing class again (this was his 4th semester) & he really struggled to get through it. He did his summer ROTC program like he was supposed to but something was off.
Suddenly, it's time for him to go back for fall semester & he informs me he thinks he's dropping out. He doesn't want to go to college anymore, he absolutely does not want to go into the military either. Which, I never pushed him to do so. Other than my father in law who fought in Vietnam who has since passed away, we're not a military family. I love the military & I have been so proud of him. But, this was always his decision.
It was just such a sudden & strange change. He wasn't just doing it to get a scholarship, he was passionate about it. His whole room displayed medals & challenge coins & signa he's received & collected. Passwords & nicknames & everything was dedicated to this goal.
Then, suddenly, he just changed his mind. He said that the military isn't what he thought it was. I asked what that meant & he wouldn't give me anymore than that. He still follows the ROTC on Instagram & likes all their posts. But, he dropped out at the start of last fall & to this day I have not been able to understand why.
This podcast today has given me a little more understanding. I mean, it's really fascinating how uniquely different Gen Z is, even from Millennials. My mom was born in 1962 & our childhoods were fairly similar. Not exactly alike but there was no social media when I was in highschool. So, it was a lot of the same.
These kids, it's so completely different. Their mindset is so different. My son has decided he wants to be a chef. Very different from the military. I was skeptical but he seems to think this is a very plausible idea. But, apparently like other kids close to his age, he is ok with figuring it out as he goes.
My oldest is a Trump supporter, he works out & is about to turn 23 & has this big full bushy beard. He is kind of obsessed with masculinity. He has all those characteristics that were mentioned in the podcast.
I think this is going to be a great podcast! I'm really excited for more! Not just for more insight into my own son's but we need to bring in the youth. I'm going to send this episode to my youngest & have him watch it. I think he'll enjoy it.
You’re a lot closer in age to your kids than I am to mine. Your mom was born in 1962–I’m 1957 and my eldest is 1995 which makes him an older Gen Z.
While not always the oldest mom in the class, I was certainly up there. I think that’s why I really enjoy listening to the perspectives of young people. It kinda bridges the age gap.
Interesting story. Interesting because your son's trajectory was almost identical to mine when I was his age (we're talking about late '50s-early '60s). Hope he finds his path.