Tom O’Keefe graduated from Villanova University with a major in Communication and a minor in Business. As a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Tom teaches a weekly writing class for high school sophomores, helps with junior college counseling and tutors algebra. He shares his thoughts on the role of technology in the classroom, his teaching philosophy and his experience as a teacher.

What were you like as a student?

I was a very strong student. I was lucky to have very supportive parents, unbelievable teachers in grade school, and a strong Catholic college preparatory high school education. I realized early on what needed to be done to succeed in school and get good grades: do your homework and do it right. After that, studying becomes a heck of a lot easier because you’ve basically already studied it through your homework assignments.

How did you decide to become a teacher?

As I was applying for JVC, I was watching the fourth season of HBO’s The Wire which focuses on urban education. Seeing the students depicted on the show and how the education system failed them inspired me to get involved in urban education for my year of service.

Did your college education prepare you for a teaching career?

At Villanova, I was a Communication major with a minor in business, so, no, not directly, but I did learn a great deal about writing and communicating effectively, skills that will undoubtedly serve me well no matter what field I’m in!

Can you tell us more about your philosophy of teaching?

My philosophy is very much a work in progress, but there are a few things that I consistently try to do. I believe in holding my students accountable for their work and treating them like adults, but also staying positive, hopefully giving them a “can-do” attitude. I also really believe in giving one-on-one tutelage. No one method of teaching or communicating works on every student, so being able to see them individually can really help them to focus and help me to meet their needs. Luckily, I have small classes that allow me to do that! Lastly, I try to stress that students check their work over and over (and over again) to make sure that it’s the best it can possibly be.

How do you measure students’ performance and success?

It depends on the subject. For writing, I look to see whether they followed directions and put in effort, first. After that, I check for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Next, I look to see if their piece works as a whole. If all of these things are done well, I consider that a successful assignment. Over time, I look for improvements in each of those areas. For math, I initially give them a lot of feedback, making sure they have all the necessary steps and pay attention to detail. As we go from problem to problem, I give less and less guidance to make sure they can do it on their own. By the end of my tutoring session, I hope that they can move through difficult problems confidently on their own.

Besides lecture, what other methods of teaching do you use?

In my Writing Lab class, I usually do one of a few things. If students have a writing assignment for another class, they use my class time to work on that. I act as a resource for them for clarifications, editing, and proof-reading. If students don’t have a writing assignment to work on, I project grammatically incorrect sentences off of my computer, read it aloud, and have the students type a corrected sentence. Once they’ve finished, we correct the sentence together, go over new vocabulary words, and explain why we made the corrections. Other times, I’ll find a news article that could affect their lives and have them write a few paragraphs on their opinion on the matter. The goal with this is to get students thinking in terms of an argument with proper support.

You mentioned that you use your computer to project grammatically incorrect sentences. How do you use technology in your classroom?

Writing Lab and College Counseling classes are held in the school computer lab, so technology is a big part of my day-to-day. In Writing Lab, students type each of their assignments and I use the projector to show grammatically incorrect sentences for the students to fix. My school uses Google for Business Solutions, so each student has their own e-mail address and account. We use Google Documents so that students can access their work wherever there’s a computer and an internet connection, and they can share their work with teachers without printing. In College Counseling, students are able to use the computers to look up colleges, practice for the SAT and ACT, and find resources for the college application process. Technology is a great tool for us!

What do you think about team projects?

Learning to work as a team is a vital part of any education because most professions require teamwork. I can remember being frustrated with team projects as a student because other students weren’t always dependable or hardworking, but that’s something that students must learn to deal with, too. So, even though I don’t use team projects necessarily, I’m a big believer!

Everyone talks about the fact that Generation Y needs positive reinforcement and rewards in order to perform well. What positive reinforcement methods do you use in your classroom?

With the students that I work with, this is especially important because of inconsistencies at home. School should be a place for young people to learn and grow, and a place where they feel safe. I always try to keep a positive, upbeat attitude that fosters learning. I make sure to give credit where it’s due and encourage students to fulfill their potential. That being said, I am also a firm believer in being truthful with my students so that they can learn what is acceptable and what is not. If I feel that they are lacking in effort, I am not afraid to tell to my students and, conversely, if they give me great work, I tell them that, too. Basically, with high schoolers, it’s important to find a balance between positive reinforcement and challenging students to realize their own potential.

Do you think your students and teenagers in general value education?

Yes, my students definitely value their education. It’s just helping them realize what they need to do to succeed that can be challenging. As a teenager, it can be difficult to come to school everyday, do what you’re supposed to, do your homework, and get good grades when the benefit of that (graduation, college, a job) seems so far off. This can be especially daunting for students from low socio-economic backgrounds because there are so many outside pressures that they encounter on a daily basis. Many of my students will be the first members of their families to attend college, so there’s not always a set path for them to follow. The fact that they attend a college preparatory school is a huge first step!

As far as teenagers in general, some value education and others do not. So much of it depends on the person, their background, and their current influences.

Do students today have more respect for their teachers than previous generations did?

It’s a different kind, but the respect is still there. I can remember my elders talking about their time in school where teachers could wrap their knuckles with a yardstick if they stepped out of line. Teachers ran tight ships back then. Now, (teachers can’t hit their students and) students look at their teachers more as mentors who they can trust. Teachers are more involved in their students lives than ever before. That’s a very positive thing for my students. People who believe in the “old school”, rigid way of teaching would likely look at some modern classrooms and say the students lack respect for their teachers. I disagree. Students still respect their teachers. It’s just a bit different than it used to be. It’s more of a shown mutual respect for each other.

Until two years ago, you were a student yourself. Do you see any significant changes between your attitudes and beliefs toward education and your students’? Do your students write and research in different ways? Do they have a different definition of plagiarism?

I came from a vastly different background than my students entering high school. I was from an upper-middle class, suburban town in Massachusetts where getting a great education was the norm. It’s different for my students. Education wasn’t always stressed to them. College isn’t the norm where they live, it’s the exception. Part of my school’s goal is to make education, coupled with personal growth, the priority.

In terms of writing and research, my students almost exclusively use the internet to look things up that they can’t find in their textbooks. Just like most high school students, they don’t always use the most reputable sources and they sometimes need to learn how to gather information effectively and correctly, but that’s something we’re helping them to learn.

What is the most satisfying moment of your teaching career so far?

Two quick stories. First, I tutored a student in algebra one afternoon, much to her chagrin. She didn’t totally trust me. After class ended, I didn’t think much of it. About a week later, during parent-teacher conferences, she came in with her mother, said hello, and said, “Mr. O’Keefe, I got a hundred on that homework because of you.” I had nearly forgotten about the tutoring session, but she certainly hadn’t, and it was her way of saying, “thanks.” Now, she trusts me to help her. That went a long way for me. Second, one of my more reserved students asked me to edit her paper for an essay contest. She ended up winning the grand prize. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and was successful. I still smile when I think about how proud I am of her.

What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher?

I think a great teacher is someone who goes the extra mile. The one who makes an extra effort to truly get to know their students and challenges them to go above and beyond themselves. Anyone can teach a chapter of a textbook. It’s what happens before, between, and after those lectures that can truly have an impact.

What do you hope your students will learn from your class?

I hope that they grow as writers and, more importantly, as thinkers. I hope that they learn writing can be their own creation and that it can be a beautiful thing. I doubt they’ll remember everything I try to pass on, but I hope they all remember to take great care in their writing so it can be a tool for them in the future.

Final thoughts?

Teaching is a roller-coaster ride. A lesson or idea for one class may go exceedingly well and flop for another class. One student may exceed expectations while the next under-performs. It’s both satisfying and incredibly frustrating, but it’s all about flexibility, trust, and respecting each other. I truly appreciate my own teachers more than ever now that I’ve been a teacher.

As far as the demographic of student that I work with, we cannot fail them. They really are our future. There are some remarkably bright young people out there who need to be mentored and cared for in order to be challenged to reach their full potential. They have limitless ability and it would be shameful to waste it.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I’m an agency guy. I’ve worked with national brands that have truly tested, pushed and nurtured me. I started out as an art director, then became a creative director working for national and multi-national brands. I reached a crossroad and asked, “What’s next?” I had an opportunity to teach part-time and that told me that I want to make an impact. I love advertising. I first taught colour theory and layout classes. Then I was asked to take the Creative Advertising program at Seneca College to the next level. Now I am the program coordinator and a professor of the Creative Advertising program at Seneca. I like being challenged. I enjoy giving people challenges to become better talents, and show them how great they are.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in Karma and follow this Jackie Robinson quote, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” I’m not here to train “adgeeks.” I care about transcending everything into life, not just advertising. I want to motivate and bring out the passion in students so that they can be better people.

What do you do to help students be the best that they can be?

Find it within. Ask, “how do I want to do better?” Ask questions. Sure there’s textbook learning, but find challenges. I believe in experiential learning. I try to keep my students engaged. I understand that Gen Y breathes the social media realm so I provide three sources for them to learn. I have Twitter, Facebook and a Blog (for detailed learning). I keep things up-to-date so that I can create a dialogue and have conversations in and out of the classroom.

How can students be successful in the classroom and in their careers?

The classroom provides stepping stones to a successful career. It is about challenging yourself. Chris Taciuk (VP, CD of DraftFCB), Cam Boyd (Copywriter, Taxi 2), Randy Stein (Partner CD, Grip Limited), Aaron Starkman (CCO, Zig Ideas) are successful because they did not treat learning as an assignment, they saw learning as building skills and character.

What do you think about Gen Y’s level of commitment toward education?

Gen Y, like every generation, understands the importance of education. With post-secondary school, Gen Y cares about delivery on its own terms. If they can get information and learn, they are willing to experiment change. They want to see the benefit out of learning, which is a good thing. Once they see an idea, they are committed. The way of learning has changed, which is the expectation of getting an opportunity to learn what they want.

What do you think about Gen Y’s creativity skills?

Gen Y is very one-idea committed. The problem is stopping too soon. There are deeper solutions. The analogy of an onion is to cut through its layers until you reach the core where you start crying. Paul Cappelli, (Former CD, McCann Erickson) said, “for every ad you do, there is a dozen more ads that are better in the waste basket.” It’s a generational thing, my generation feels that the next generation does not come up with more than one solution.

Gen Y feels that they have no time to do anything. What are your thoughts about this?

There’s too much shit distracting them.

There are moments when students feel like they are failures. What would you suggest to them in this case?

“IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME.” Remind yourself why you are here. If you commit to failure, then you will fail. Look for a vision and set goals, “what is it that I want?” Students should go back  and re-evaluate why they started out.

Does Gen Y have a different approach to solving problems compared to previous generations?

The difference is access. Gen Y can now access the Vatican Library naked, while eating toast, watching 90210 and tweeting all at the same time. There are new and fresher tools.

Do you think Gen Y has a different perspective on the importance of education compared to Baby Boomers and Gen X?

Boomers did it for their parents. Education was expected. At this time, parents were immigrants and wanted the best for their children, so education was mandatory. For Gen X, education became a privilege because access to education changed. They felt that success is attached to education. For Gen Y, they are aware that people succeed without formal education. They feel that there is still hope to succeed without education.

You worked with Gen X and Gen Y. Can you give us a comparison?

Gen X’s perception is that they work harder, which is true. When I did layouts, I used a magic marker and hand-drew everything. I worked twice as hard. Gen Y works hard too, but they have different tools. When it comes to level of professionalism, there is no difference. Both are here for the same goal.

Do you think Gen Y engages in the classroom differently compared to previous generations?

There are far more distractions and disruptions, which is why Gen Y is so opinionated. There is a lot of access and information. Those from the last 5 years did not challenge me. My suggestion is to take technology out of the classroom because Gen Y’s attention span is shorter. I want students to know the difference between listening versus hearing. Technology can get in the way of that because it is tempting. I try to remove distraction when I am lecturing.

Follow Professor Anthony Kalamut via Twitter, Facebook and his Blog.

Much has been thought, written and said about the ideal Gen Y lifestyle on this blog. Most of us dream it but Alex Cattoni is among the lucky few that lives it. She’s “living the dream” as a Senior Marketer in MindValley (an awesome company featured in TNGG’s Work Posts).

Two years ago, she packed her bags to exotic Malaysia on a barely paid internship. Now, she lives the ideal GenY life: traveling extensively around the world, meeting with thought leaders and inspiring people from all walks of life, and managing her own marketing team for million dollar clients.

Check out her blog and Twitter for more info.

Firstly, I’m totally jealous of how many places you’ve visited in the past few years (more than 23 different countries and counting)! When you graduated from college, did you ever dream of this life in Kuala Lumpur?

Absolutely not. When I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2007, I was actually planning to go to Law School. For years I thought Law was in the cards for me. So much so, that I majored in Business Law…and worked my butt off to get a killer GPA that would ensure I got into Law School. Then, one day in January 2008, everything changed. I realized that my “dream” of becoming the tough, powerful, ultra-successful lawyer lady was nothing more than a false ideal I had constructed in my mind to smother my fear of the unknown (better known as post-graduation “what the hell am I doing with my life?” syndrome)… like a cold hard slap in the face, I woke up one morning completely and utterly terrified. I had finally listened to that voice in my head telling me law school was not for me. I then had to ask myself probably the scariest question of all “What do I REALLY want in life?”
I took out a piece of paper and I started writing down all the things I loved and wanted in my life at that moment… Fun, adventure, growth, learning, travel…

Then I wrote down everything I thought I was good at. Marketing, writing, creating, connecting with others…

This was when I decided (no matter how much it scared me) that I wanted to work abroad.
How did you get to where you are now?

…In a nutshell: I became a member of AIESEC, a student-run multi-national organization that facilities students and graduates to work overseas. Through AIESEC, I got access to a large database of employers from all over the world who were looking to hire.

This is where I found out about MindValley, an ultra-hip, cutting edge online marketing company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I applied, interviewed, and got the job!

In less then 1 month I went from studying for my LSAT, to making plans to move (for an indefinite amount of time) to a country I had hardly heard of! I was scared beyond belief but that aching feeling I had in my stomach was gone. I was truly excited and happy about the journey ahead of me. It just felt right.
What exactly do you do at MindValley?

I have been at MindValley for nearly 2 years and am now one of their senior marketers and business managers. I manage 4 of MindValley’s businesses and will be launching a 5th business this Spring.

(To learn more about MindValley, visit our website at www.MindValley.com).

How can you travel so much and maintain a full time job?

One of my biggest passions is traveling. I knew I wanted a job that gave me the freedom and flexibility to travel as much as possible. I have that at MindValley. I have an amazing team of people who help me with my businesses and, more than anything, their support and sheer awesomeness allows me to travel as much as I do and work from outside the office.

This is also the beauty of doing all business online. As long as there is an internet connection, I can work from anywhere. So yes, although I travel A LOT, it isn’t always purely a vacation. I do spend a lot of time working while visiting countries all over the world!

What is the best thing about working at MindValley?

The freedom and flexibility. I also LOVE the people I work with. We have a team of 35 people that represent 20 different countries! How cool is that?

What is the most inspiring thing you have experienced in the past two years?

I would have to say it’s been witnessing my team achieve some incredibly outrageous and scary goals. We like to think BIG. In fact, this is the top value on our “Code of Awesomeness.” In the past 1 year alone, we have grown an outrageous amount – all because we dare to dream big. I love being part of a team that believes we can achieve anything and pulls together to make it so.
What is the coolest thing you have done while working in MindValley?

Aside from visiting some of the most amazing places on the planet, I have also learned so much business-wise while working at MindValley. I think the coolest thing about my job is being given the responsibility to launch, manage and grow multiple multi-million dollar a year businesses. I love to learn, create, and strategize and my job is 100% that and I have an amazing team who support me.
How can you afford to travel so much as a young Internet Marketer? How much of an impact do finances have on your career decisions?

For me, life is all about experiences so I’m not afraid to admit that I spend the majority of my income on traveling. However, I’m lucky that the cost of living in Malaysia is quite low so I am able to afford a great apartment and have a very comfortable lifestyle in KL.

Although money is important to me, it’s not what motivates me. If it were, I wouldn’t have accepted the job at MindValley. I could have easily applied at some marketing firm close to home and worked in a cubicle from 9-5, 40 hours a week to make way more moola than what MindValley was offering when I started. But that’s not what I want and my guess is, that’s not what you want either. If you follow your heart and do what motivates and energizes you, you will be successful and the money will follow – just as it has for me.

Do you think the MindValley work culture would work for a full fledged corporation?

I think there are certain aspects of the MindValley culture that work better because it’s a smaller company, however, I definitely think that even the biggest corporations could implement and greatly benefit from our rituals. For example, expressing daily gratitude is something MindValley prides itself on. We have actually built an online application called GratitudeLog.com that we all use religiously as a way to log our grateful thoughts!

G-logging, as I like to call it, doesn’t stop at MindValley. We now have over 17,000 users logging their gratitude every single day! Every company should make gratitude one of their highest values… Other rituals we follow that corporations could implements are: weekly meetings to celebrate team successes, flexi-time, a “Fun Fund” to cover the cost of a team event at least once a month, open communication and/or a fun, dynamic work environment.

If you think it’s impossible for large companies to do this, just take a look at Zappos…They have a work culture very similar to ours, yet they are 100 times our size.

What do you think future corporations need to keep in mind when managing Gen Y?

Gen Y’ers are a different breed. We value fun, learning and freedom above all else. Yes, money is important, but almost everyone I know would choose a fun, dynamic, challenging and flexible job that caters to their desired lifestyle over a few extra bucks. If you’re looking to recruit or retain Gen Y’ers, you need to keep this in mind.

What advice would you give college seniors/ recent graduates who would love to have the lifestyle you have? (and can’t really move to Kuala Lumpur)

First of all, I want to say that anyone can move anywhere they want to and do anything they want to. I didn’t get to where I am because of money or “connections.” I got to where I am today because I consciously made the decision to make a change in my life.

One thing I want everyone to notice is how often I used the word “scared” (or something of the sort) in my responses. In fact, I only just noticed it now as I was reviewing my answers. I did a lot of things in the past 2 years that scared me to death. It’s not easy deciding to leave the comfort of your home town, your friends, your family, and everything else you know and trust. I had to seriously step outside my comfort zone to be where I am today. If you never do anything that scares you, you will never grow and that is a cold, hard fact.

Elliott Bisnow

Brett Leve

Described as “a mutual aid society for young entrepreneurs,” Summit Series brings together young entrepreneurs, innovators, and influencers with the aim of effecting positive social change. Its young and inspiring founders, Elliott Bisnow and Brett Leve, ages twenty-four and twenty-five, answer the questions of the also young and inspiring TNGG staff.

How does someone so young start a company? Was it education, experience, a certain need, or something else that pushed you in this direction?

Elliott: I think it’s a lot of luck. It’s also trying over and over again and realizing that eventually you’ll create a spark. Eventually you’ll find some luck. If you fail at three businesses but catch a lucky break, and your fourth is a smash hit, then you’re a rock star. I started my first business—a T-shirt company—when I was eighteen and a freshman in college. It failed miserably. My second business also failed. When I finally caught a lucky break at twenty-one, I’d been pouring my heart into starting a business for three years.

Tell us more about Summit Series. How did Summit Series start?

Elliott: Summit Series began in 2008 when I was twenty-two years old. I’d left college early to chase my entrepreneurial dreams. I thought the best way to learn would be by meeting other young company founders. Summit Series began with a few cold calls and a ski trip with nineteen young entrepreneurs. Today, we are about to host our ninth summit, which will be in Washington, DC, and will have five hundred attendees.

What are the objectives and the ambitions of the project? What do you hope to achieve with it?

Elliott: Summit Series is all about progress. We hope to bring together many of the most influential young entrepreneurs from around the globe. Once together, it’s all about building better businesses, pushing philanthropic initiatives forward, creating friendships and inspiring each other.

Summit Series is a great example of the power of networking. Do you think millennials are masters of networking and collaboration?

Brett: Certainly, but it’s not just about networking. It’s the genuine desire to collaborate and help others that is propelling our generation forward. It’s a core belief that a rising tide really does lift all ships. We find fulfillment not only in improving our own lives, but also the lives of those around us.

According to a recent study, Generation Y entrepreneurs are 25 percent more optimistic than business owners overall. Do you think this is true and why?

Brett: Millennials had the benefit of growing up during a prosperous time. There was no great war and the closest thing we had to real systemic problems were the Y2K scare and the tech crash of 2000. As a result, we view prosperity as the default state. I think this core belief that prosperity is always possible will ultimately be the driving force behind our recovery.

How do you explain the recent boom of successful Gen Y entrepreneurs? What are the key characteristics that make Gen Y successful entrepreneurs?

Brett: The recent boom of Gen Y entrepreneurs can be attributed to connectivity and communication. A decade ago there might have only been a few resources for aspiring entrepreneurs to get information about starting a company. There were major publications like Inc. and Forbes, but there weren’t any outlets covering stories about successful young entrepreneurs. Today, there are dozens of publications and blogs that are focused on startups, which give aspiring entrepreneurs a window into how successful ventures are built from the ground up. Suddenly, there’s a road map and a plethora of resources for something that once was a mystery. Couple that with corporate layoffs and the stodgy culture that permeates America’s office buildings, and it’s no wonder that a lot of millennials have taken the plunge.

As a millennial, you have probably been labeled as entitled, lazy, idealistic, and so on. How do you respond to these labels and which one is the most offensive?

Brett: Entitled maybe, but not lazy. I think there is a level of self-awareness that can be developed through this type of feedback. You should never be offended, never develop a habit of interpreting things negatively, and never be self-conscious. Always look at other people’s criticism—constructive or otherwise—as a way to improve yourself.

What advice would you give to millennials who are job hunting or unhappy with their current jobs?

Brett: Leverage the power of your online network and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Figure out what you are passionate about and go after it. For example, our most recent hire was a casual acquaintance with whom I hadn’t spoken for over three years. Out of the blue he sent me a Facebook message asking to set up a call. He said that he loved my company and that he wanted to find a way to be helpful. We interviewed him a week later and now he’s a full time employee.

What advice would you give to companies that employ millennials? Is there a way to manage Gen Y?

Brett: Empowerment is critical. You need to give millennials an opportunity to use the skills they have developed. Most workplace dissatisfaction is a result of feeling stifled. Since the beginning of time human beings have passed down information from elder to younger generations, but now that we live in a world where information is ubiquitous, and not solely learned through life experience, the workplace needs to catch up. Older generations have a lot to learn from millennials. This might be tough for an employer to stomach, but a recent college graduate might know a lot more about Internet marketing than their boss, for example.

How do you define success?

Brett: Waking up in the morning with a smile on your face. Money is a powerful resource, but its only one type of currency. If all you focus on is your paycheck, you might end up with a million bucks in the bank and a hole in your heart.

If you google yourself in ten years, what do you hope to see?

Brett: Hopefully, Summit Series will have made a measurable impact on the world by that point and I would be honored to be recognized because of it.

Your last words to TNGG?

Brett: Stop procrastinating! Go make your dreams come true.

In 1997, Britney Spears’s pleated miniskirt and overuse of the word “baby” sparked a pop culture phenomenon that spanned the boundary between beanie babies and booty shorts. An effusive force of provocation and growing up too fast, gone were the days of My Little Pony and Lisa Frank.

Today, for those who grew up with Britney and Christina – myself included – understanding of personal sexuality and gender identity is still shaped by the cookie cutter pop idols that dominated the charts at the turn of the millennium. What does the future hold for the Genie in a Bottle generation?

Dr. Patrice Oppliger, a professor of mass communication theory and research at Boston University and author of Girls Gone Skank, has extensively researched this millennial movement. In her book, Oppliger looks at how media and retailers have helped to catalyze the social sexualization of girls at an increasingly younger age. I sat down with Dr. Oppliger to talk about her research and the future in store for the skank generation.

What was the inspiration for your research on Millenial girls’ sexuality and your book Girls Gone Skank?

It was cumulative but it was when I saw a nine year old girl with “Juicy” written across the rear end of her pants. This was before I knew what Juicy Couture was, so I was just shocked that her parents would let their nine-year-old daughter wear that. The printing of things on the butt just disturbs me. Do you really need to put that there? I can see college women doing that, but it’s just like… really?! Wow! I just don’t get it – especially for a little girl. It’s just like saying, “Hey pedophile!” And then the next day I saw “Kids Eat Free” at Hooters. Really?! Do we really need to sexualize our kids this young?

So it’s sort of a bizarre insurgence of the normalization of premature sexualization?

There’s the constant pushing of the envelope. When I was in high school, to be daring, we would roll up our skirts a little shorter at the waist – we thought that was so cool. We were sort of exploring our sexuality, but now the manufacturers sell skirts that are about three inches wide. They’re selling sex to the kids, rather than allowing the exploration. The fashion industry is telling kids, “Here, this is what you wear. This is how you get attention.”

For millennials, from what I’ve read, there is this idea of immediate gratification. Parents don’t want their kids to cry or get hurt – they want to give their kids everything they didn’t have. Kids get used to that and want attention all the time, and what’s the easiest way to get that for girls? Be sexy. It’s not to be smart, it’s not to get good grades, it’s not to develop your personality.

Now too, there are things like Jersey Shore, which is hilarious, but it’s reinforcing this idea of how to get on television, how to get attention. Be just like… what’s her name? Mooki, Snooki?

Dr. Oppliger is right, the reinforcement of girls behaving and dressing sexier than their years didn’t end with the original skank era of the late 1990s and 2000s – reality shows like Jersey Shore make provocative behavior and dress not only appear acceptable, but also as the easiest, fastest, and more preferable way to get seemingly positive attention.

While I’m not one to dress like J. Woww or do back flips in a tiny dress like Snooky, it’s really not my place to criticize their behavior. It is quite frightening, however, that girls of all ages have access to this kind of programming thanks to the wonders of cable television and Internet access. What is in store for the future of generations of girls that consume skank media?

Since publishing your book, have you seen any significant changes in girls and the way they’re influenced by sexual content in media and society?

Not really, it seems to have kind of plateaued – we’re just sort of waiting for the next big thing. For a while it was the low cut jeans and the back tattoos, and then it was girls making out with other girls.

The whole Katy Perry influence…

Exactly. So now the question is, what is the next thing that’s coming? I think it’s just brewing – it’s very cyclical. There was this whole wave of Britney Spears, Christina, Aguilera, Paris Hilton. Now that they’ve gown up, we’re just waiting for what’s next.

Because the media does cover these supposed role models and pop-culture icons so frequently, do you think that it has perhaps changed or influenced the Millenials are viewed? Has the media, which gives so much attention to girls dressing and acting provocatively, guided older generations to think that as a whole, we are a more skanky generation?

From what I’ve heard from business people, it’s one thing to behave and dress that way when you’re in clubs and going to the beach, but millennials aren’t getting that you can’t dress that way in work or in class. There’s a big difference between being feminine and being sexual, and millennials aren’t drawing that line. When Millennials see these celebrities on television, they’re not being shown the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

Media has lead all of us to believe that with the outfit comes the action, especially in the case of provocation. Do you think older generations are drawing the line between how millenials may dress and how they behave, or does the idea of provocative character come as a package deal?

I think [perceptions are] changing. There is an idea that older generations are trying to learn about [younger] generations. Instead of trying to change and make them adapt to older generations. There’s been more influence on ideas like, “if this is they way millennials generations are, how can we incorporate their culture into how they learn?” There is sort of a push to change. There are a lot of positives that millennials have – their technical savvy, especially – is something employers and professors look for. It doesn’t replace the views that come with way millennials are dressing, but it creates a mixed perception.

How do you think the idea of skank will affect Millenials as they begin to enter the workforce?

I think different generations view appearance differently. For millenials it’s, “I’m just going to be me. And if they don’t like me…” And that’s fine, but realize that half the people out there aren’t going to hire you if you have a big tattoo sleeve or six nose rings. It is hard, you do have to play the game, but employers need to know if you’re going to be a team player.
Older generations want to see that millennials are willing to adapt – at least a little – to our culture as a whole, not just to their generation.

Author: Alison Morris – I spend every waking second exploring communication, commerce, creativity, and culture on a hunt for the substance of connecting. I’m a senior at Boston University studying public relations and learning what it means to be an innovator, a free thinker, a catalyst. I am a wordsmith, lucid thinker, observer, media addict, aesthetics aficionado, critical devils advocate, and eternal adventurer.

This article is part of the TNGG Sex Week series on Gen Y and sex. Read more from the series here.

Interview by Gillian Maffeo: “I am a staunch Republican. I was born wearing stilettos and Coco Chanel perfume. Fact: I can find a pair of Manolo Blahniks for $50.”

I met her when I was a sex confused freshman in college, not knowing which brands of condoms were the best – Lifestyles or Trojan? And if KY Jelly would give women yeast infections. Serving as one of the most proclaimed sex-perts and relationship advocates, E. Jean Carroll is one brilliant, clear cutting, concise advice expert.

You can find her her brilliance and witty advice in every issue of ELLE Magazine or on one of her many websites. Move over Carrie Bradshaw, “Auntie E” will eat you alive.

Tell us about yourself and your accomplishments:

No accomplishments. Just kidding. Since 1993, I have been writing an advice column for ELLE magazine called “Ask E. Jean,” and  it was ranked one of the five best magazine columns by the Chicago Tribune.

I had a television show on NBC’s, America’s Talking, called  Ask E. Jean , which was based on my column from 1994-1996. I was also nominated an Emmy for writing Saturday Night Live, in 1985 and a Cable Ace Award for the Ask E. Jean show in 1995. In 2007, I launched AskEJean.com, based on the Elle column. It is an on-going experiment in the gripping ways people give and get advice. Users can type in questions and receive instant video answers on topics such as career, beauty, sex, men, diet, “sticky situations,” and friends. Or, users can join the Advice Vixens (a section where “YOU become the advice columnist”). “Top Campus Sex Columnists” features the best college advice columnists from across America (Miss Gillian Maffeo is one of my top sex columnists).  In 2004 I launched another website called Catch24.com, where people put their profiles on trading cards and buy, sell, and trade each other. In 2002, I started another website called Greatboyfriends.com, where women can recommend their ex-boyfriends to each other.

I have written four books: Female Difficulties: Sorority Sisters, Rodeo Queens, Frigid Women, Smut Stars, and Other Modern Girls;  A Dog in Heat Is a Hot Dog and Other Rules to Live By; Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson; Mr. Right, Right Now, and have been a contributing editor to Esquire, Outside and Playboy magazines.

How did you get started in giving your quality and trustworthy advice?

I started in my career at Elle, and I was a journalist at Esquire magazine. The Editor-In-Chief at Elle loved my style hired me to write advice column.

Why is sex so important?

Nobody would have sex if they thought about it for five seconds. It costs too much money – i.e. children, mortgage – and makes you stupid and ties you down. Sex makes you crazy and causes nothing but pain, but that moment of pleasure is worth it all. Sometimes we can’t help ourselves.

Do you think Gen Y is more sexed than Baby boomers?

Right now yes. Except, the with problem with Gen Y women is that they don’t have enough orgasms as baby boomers do. Gen Y women don’t have enough orgasms because they don’t quite know how to tell their guy how to give them one. Guys are idiots at your age – they just don’t know to “do it.” Guys are a little confused about sex and the women don’t want to tell them how to make them have an orgasm because they don’t want to hurt their egos. But trust me, when you reach your 30’s, it will all work out and your man will be giving you orgasms every day. Gen Y watches way too much porn too. That’s another reason why women are not having orgasms. Guys think it’s all about them. In contrast, the Baby Boomers are about free love and the women don’t care and they tell their guys exactly what they want, and the guys give it to us.

Do you see relationship differences with Gen Y versus Baby Boomers?

Gen Y has more friends. There is way more dating and way more hooking up. Gen Y tends to go out in groups and Baby Boomers go out in smaller groups.

Give us some of that kinky advice for those who cannot get laid:

Gen Y Women:  If you really like someone, you can get laid. That is the secret ladies. If you meet another man and you really like him, just pay attention to him and REALLY listen. If you show a lot of interest in him, along with liking him, you will get laid. It’s about really liking someone else – like laughing at jokes, flirting and listening, that will ensure you will get laid. For example, if you have you ever interviewed a guy, he will ask you out after. Reason being: you paid special interest in him and asked him questions about himself, which makes him think you are into him. You’ll be in bed by that evening, and don’t drink too much because that is such a turn off.

Gen Y Guys:  They can get laid if they pay attention to girls. The cocky ones will get laid no matter what. Girls love cocky guys.

So what’s your thought on Texting/Facebook and dating?

Social media helps. Texting helps because you can see how smart someone is by a text. If someone texts you ”Were uz at?” You can see they are unintelligent, and if you like the smart types, obviously this person is not for you. With Facebook you can have 3 dates a day. It’s brilliant. You can have a lunch date, a dinner date and a cocktail date, and then choose from those three. However, I believe that Gen Y does not need to be on Match.com or any dating site because they have Facebook, and it’s free. Baby boomers do the dating site thing. A couple of my favorites are OkCupid.com, Match.com, and JDate.com.

How do you feel about the “22 year old dating the 40 year old”?

The human heart loves what the human heart loves. Sometimes those types of relationships work great and are the happiest of all marriages. One of my friends was 24 when she met her husband, who was an actor. He was 46. Now, he’s ancient and she’s 35. But still, to this day, they are as happy as can be. It can work. If women try older men, it can be eye opening in a good way.

Do you think that Gen Y is getting married and having babies too early? Do you think that contributes to the divorce rate?

Early marriage is fine and having a baby whenever you feel like it is fine. Early marriages can be happy, but it really depends on the person. For example, some women wait way too long to have children and that equals to no stamina and no eggs. Then they have to take fertility drugs in order to have children. Think seriously before you have kids though. Gen Y doesn’t have to have children if they don’t want them. Don’t be pushed into anything. Give it serious thought. The world is not going to be a pretty place when Gen Y’s children grow up.

What is your take on plastic surgery?

Go and get it. What’s the difference between plastic surgery and eye shadow? Both are used to make the best out of your assets. Do what you want to do. Live it while you got it.

Author: Gillian Maffeo — I am one of the brilliant editors and a staunch Republican. I was born wearing stilettos and Coco Chanel perfume. Fact: I can find a pair of Manolo Blahniks for $50.

As the international president Jason chairs the executive committee of CKI helping make decisions that will affect all members. He visits various districts around the country to deliver motivational speeches, facilitate leadership development workshops, and educate members on different service initiatives. Jason estimates he gives between 200-400 hours of community service on an annual basis, but he is witness to many more hours beyond that. I wanted to find out how he views our generation as volunteers.

Q: How long have you been volunteering?

I got my start in community service my freshman year of high school when I was asked to join Key Club International which is the high school version of CKI.  I have been doing community service for eight years now and have loved every minute of it.

Q: Is there a particular cause or project that is especially important to you?

One of CKI’s service partners is the March of Dimes.  This organization is very important to me because it works to develop solutions to premature birth.  I was born nearly a month and a half premature and spent two months in the hospital fighting for my life.  I really value that work that the March of Dimes does.

Q: Do you see certain projects or causes that overall tend to be more important to our generation?

I have noticed that our generation really likes to participate in projects that will have a global impact. Working with UNICEF and the CKI Six Cents Initiative is a great cause because it allows us to buy water re-hydration packets for just six cents.

Q: What message would you give to someone who argued that Millennials are lazy or uninterested in giving back? Have you faced this stereotype before?

I would say that you can’t judge all of us. There are tons of young people that are interested in community service and giving back.  The media might depict us in a bad light, but we want to do what is best and be helpful members of society.

Q: You have the chance to interact and meet college student volunteers on an almost daily basis. What characteristics do you notice about our generation as volunteers?

We are willing to do just about anything to help someone out.  I feel that I could have just about any service project put before me and I would be thrilled to give a helping hand. We are very compassionate and get very emotionally attached to our work.

Q: How can we encourage other college students and young people to get involved in service? How do you motivate your peers?

I think simply by just showing others how fun service can be. Also, by explaining that it is our duty to give back to a society and that we need to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  I think getting people together to do large projects really shows young people what a huge impact they can have.

Q: Do you think you have a future in helping others? Are you a volunteer for life?

Definitely, the Kiwanis family has changed my life and made me the strong-willed, caring, and motivated young man that I am today.  I have been touched my so many people in my life and can think of nothing more rewarding than doing service forever.  I hope to find a career working with young people in leadership development or possibly with a non-profit as a volunteer coordinator.

Lucy Setian on TckTck meeting in Copenhagen

Lucy Setian just won the overall impact award on TH!NK ABOUT IT: Climate Change, a 3 month blogging competition with a focus on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) in December 2009 and organized by the European Journalism Centre. She blogs on everything green from eco-sex to Bulgarian green initiatives to interactive plant fights. We managed to catch up with Lucy, who is also busy with other projects such as Az Cheta and Armengenocide.org.

What was the purpose of the blogging competition?

Positive lobbying. The aim was to create a portal into the daily life of the bloggers, to show how each one of us experiences the effects of climate change policies every day. For me personally, it was a way to show that social media communities have a great influence. The blog posts were read all over the globe and we made good connections with each other, which is another important aspect – networking possibilities. Also, concerning the COP15 meeting, it was a good way to concentrate the attention in the Internet via only one platform instead of using dozens of individual blogs.

Do you think the initiative actually made a difference in people’s opinions, attitudes and behaviors about climate change?

The initiative cannot make any such thing, because there are many differences in people’s thoughts on climate change. But it managed to show exactly these differences and to create dialogue between people who are polar-opinionated. Of course, there is one group which just ignores the fact that something as big as climate change is happening at all, so there, maybe, we changed something. I believe more Bulgarians are interested in green issues after they learned about my award.

When did your interest in environmental issues start?

If you live in a dirty city like Sofia, it won’t take long before you become interested.

You have some creative suggestions on how all of us can be sustainable and lead a green life. How do you come up with them? Where do you find inspiration?

Researching in the Internet, sharing ideas with “green” friends on- and offline, thinking on how to decrease my bills for water and electricity. You don`t need to become a vegetarian if you want to feel greener, but you love meat. My point is that you must find the things that make you good, the things that suit you, the things that you are really able to change in your lifestyle, like recycling. You can try to create a photo blog with the top green buildings in the world or to make a bio meal competition for your neighbors. Or plant a tree. You can sign up for paperless billing. It is different for each one of us.

What are the greatest environmental issues of our time?

Extinction of animal species, deforestation, bad city infrastructure, pollution…  Where shall I start from? It is hard to tell which one is first.

What are the challenges to having a “green planet”?

The technology of the green era is not cheap. This is the first problem. The second is that even if we want to use it, we must teach people to adapt to the new lifestyle, which is not easy. The mentality is very important when it comes to changes. After all, many people don’t believe in climate change at all, which you can easily see in both my personal and my green blogs. Also, some people won’t substitute their favorite brands for something with a bio label, just because we tell them that this is the right decision for all of us.

Talking about bio labels, many brands today claim to be environment friendly and sustainable. Do you think it is just a marketing trick or they actually care?

Both. It is amazing how some companies can act like eco friendly organizations, devoted to society’s problems and in the interim violate many environmental laws.

What can politicians do to really help the environment? We see them going to meetings and conferences, talking about the environment but we barely see any results.

Stop letting them meet in person. They can use web conferences. They can use their travel and accommodation money for better things instead of discussing how to collect milliards afterward.

Do you think that Millennials are more concerned about the environment than previous generations are?

Maybe we are because the critical point is coming closer and closer and we don’t have any other options. Cities grow bigger, companies too. It has its natural consequences on the environment.

What are the things we do every day that harm our planet, yet we don’t realize how harmful they are?

We leave the water running in the bath or in the kitchen sink for more time or with more power than we actually need. We rarely do double-sided printing. We leave the computer on when we get out of the office for lunch. We don’t want to spend little more money for eco plastic bags or we forget to take the textile bag from home. We prefer to drive alone instead of using public transportation, or ride a bicycle, or carpool. And so on…

What can common people do to help the environment? And I mean something different from using paper bags and recycle.

They can take part in initiatives like TH!NK ABOUT IT: Climate Change, TckTckTck, 350 and so on. They can meet and discuss, give suggestions that can be implemented – like the ecological Christmas lightening in Paris. We need to bring the topic in the public sphere in order to be heard from more people and we can make it even by one single blog as our personal contribution. We must teach our children to live in balance with nature and animals.

Many people say that they would lead a more environment friendly life if they had money. How do you respond to this?

Haha. Money doesn`t make you green. Maybe it makes it easier to place a sun panel on your roof or to buy the latest model of electric car but that is not the only way to live an environment friendly life. One can do so many other things that are eco friendly and cheap or even free. Such people take it like a fashion, today I`ll be green, tomorrow I`ll buy a Ferrari. That won`t last for long if they don’t believe really in the idea.

Now that the competition is over, how do you plan to inspire all the people who used to read your blog?

I’ll continue to write on the topic as far as I can. I’ll do my best to stay true to by readers. However, I hope I’ll offer them other interesting topics to think about too. I’m a Thinker after all, right?

Marnie Florin is one of the thousands Millennials involved with volunteering programs abroad. She graduated from Emory University with a degree in history and now she is a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa. We enjoyed the power of Internet to ask Marnie several questions about her volunteering experience, cultural differences and how a Millennial lives without Internet and tech gadgets on regular basis.  

Tell us more about yourself before joining the Peace Corps.

I grew up in Orange County, watched Gossip Girl, had never camped and didn’t even like the outdoors, used to own (and love) an iPhone and liked to shave my legs—so not your typical Peace Corps volunteer. I got interested in Africa after reading Samantha Powers’ book A Problem From Hell, and decided to take some African Studies classes in college. I ended up majoring in history with a focus on Africa and wrote my thesis on the civil war in Somalia.

Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps?

I wanted to end poverty, ha. Not really, but sort of. At some point while studying Africa in college, I realized that reading about Africa wasn’t enough. I got it into my head that to be the person I wanted to be and make the changes I wanted to make in the future, I had to volunteer with the Peace Corps. I also saw the Peace Corps as a way to get some experience in development, the field in which I planned to have my career, without having to sit in a cubicle everyday. But, most of all, I wanted to challenge myself. I didn’t think it was fair for my life to be so easy just because of where I was born.

Did you choose The Gambia?

No, you don’t get to choose where you go, but I did specify that I wanted to go to Africa.

What is your daily routine? What do you do in The Gambia?

I wake up around 7 am to the sound of donkeys and my sisters pounding with a huge mortar and pestle. I make some juice using a powdered juice packet and breakfast using my gas burner, usually oatmeal or toast, and poop in my pit latrine. I finally open my door around 8 am and greet my family. Most days I ride my bike to the neighboring village where I work with its women’s group or to the school for Press Club meetings. But if I don’t have any work that day, I like to find a bush path I’ve never taken and bike until I reach a village. Before the sun sets, I fetch water from the pump and take a bucket bath. Then I read some more and either cook or eat dinner with my family.

Work is a relative term here. I never spend more than 4 hours a day ‘working’ and most days I don’t ‘work’ at all. It sounds great, but keep in mind that even when I’m not working, I’m still living in a village day in and day out, surrounded by a foreign culture, speaking a different language and peeing in a hole. That being said, the Press Club’s advisor and I have been working together to teach the students basic journalism skills and help edit stories. My other project is building a garden with the women’s group from a nearby village. Gardens are a major source of income for women here, but they are very expensive to build. I applied for and received a grant to fence in a half-hectare garden and build four wells. The fence is already finished and the wells are in the process of being completed.

Do you like such simplicity in your life?

Actually I do. As much as I loved having an iPhone and being able to settle any argument with a quick Google search, not having to return e-mails or voice mails is such a relief. It’s also really amazing to wake up each day and—having no concrete schedule or job description—to be able to lie in my bed and decide what I want to do.

But, being happy doing nothing all day takes some getting used to. It’s kind of like Walden: I have an obscene amount of free time, most of which is spent reading. Whenever I start to feel like a waste of space, I try to remind myself that this is the only time in my life that I will have this much free time and I should enjoy it to the fullest and not feel guilty about doing nothing.

How does a Millennial who has grown up with Internet, cell phones and other gadgets learn to live without electricity and running water?

I absolutely dreaded the idea of living without electricity and running water, but found that taking bucket baths, having a hole in the ground instead of a toilet, living with rats in my house and never having cold water is actually not that hard. We do have cell phones though, and a plan that allows us to text other PCVs for free. So I spend a fair amount of time each day texting things like, “I just caught a mouse in my backpack, what do I do??” or, “My farts smell so bad… That meat sandwich was a bad idea.”

The most difficult part about this experience—something I didn’t even think would be a problem before coming here—is that I am alone in my village, surrounded by people whose food, culture, clothing and language are completely different from mine. Before I came here, I could not have imagined how difficult it would be to live most days without anything familiar.

How do you keep in touch with the world and the rapid pace with which everything is changing?

I don’t, ha. I can use the Internet when I come into the capital, but I never check the news, which is ironic because I used to watch CNN all day. I have no idea what is going on the world, aside from the gossip, and only hear about major news stories from locals who listen to BBC on their radios. When I’m not in the capital, I’m able to keep in touch with my family through my cell phone and old-fashioned snail mail.

Obviously, The Gambia has a very different culture. What are some of the most shocking differences?

The country is almost entirely Muslim, so men can have up to four wives and many do. Women can show their breasts, but not their knees and very few girls and almost no women wear pants outside of the capital. Most Gambians pray five times a day and stores close during the afternoon prayer. Despite the country’s piety, male prostitution is a serious issue here. We were warned about it before we arrived and I thought it was an exaggeration. It’s not.

Aside from the high incidence of male prostitution, I was most surprised by Gambians’ obsession with and coveting of Western culture and white people in general. When I tell Gambians that some people in America have no homes and live on the street, they don’t believe me because they think everyone in America is a multi-millionaire, and also because there is no such thing as being homeless here. My favorite aspect of Gambian culture is its generosity: A person without food or a place to stay can walk into any compound, ask for food and shelter and he will be provided with both. In fact, it is standard practice while eating to invite anyone that passes by to join.

Are there any cultural similarities you find surprising?

People here can be just as superficial and vain as people in the US. They always want the newest gadgets and constantly complain about needing new clothes.

Did you experience culture shock?

Not really. I didn’t know enough about the culture to be shocked when I first arrived. But I do experience a little culture shock each time I go from my village to the capital, and vice-versa. They’re just so completely different that once I get adjusted to one place, the other seems so foreign.

From personal experience I know that when people move to a different country one of the main issues is food.  Do you miss American food? How did you adjust to the local cuisine?

I miss food more than anything else—sorry mom and dad. I spend hours every day talking, thinking and dreaming about sushi, everything bagels, gruyere cheese, buffalo burgers on whole wheat buns, frozen yogurt, real ketchup, the list goes on and on. When I’m in the capital and have access to real grocery stores, restaurants and most importantly, a fridge, I’m able to buy and cook a lot of American food, such as pizza, grilled cheese, ice cream, Lucky Charms, chicken parmesan, etc. No electricity makes cooking in my village a little different. I used to eat every meal with my family—rice or millet topped with either peanut sauce, dried fish, oil and MSG or green sauce, dried fish, oil and MSG—but now I cook for myself. I make oatmeal or pancakes for breakfast, and soup, pasta, stir-fry, mac and cheese, curry, etc. for lunch and dinner.

Do you think that Millennials in The Gambia and in the USA have different values and mindsets? How much of who we are is shaped by our culture, nationality, socioeconomic status and how much is shaped by the time we live in?

The Millennials in the US and The Gambia have extremely different values, which are, in my opinion, shaped primarily by socioeconomic status and nationality. Most Millennials here are obsessed with leaving their country and getting rich, because, unlike most American Millenials, they have spent their whole lives worrying about money. They don’t have the luxury of spending their time and money fighting for those causes so important to many of their American counterparts.

Many have labeled Millennials as civic-minded. Do you agree? Is it true only for Millennials in the USA or in The Gambia as well?

I think most Millennials mourn not being alive in the 1960s and unknowingly try to re-create the environment of passion, unity and change that existed then. Nearly all my friends have causes that they’re fighting for, be it environmental education, human rights, gay marriage, etc. Very few of my friends are working just to make money and those that are grew up very poor.

The reason Millennials care less about money and more about the world is because, unlike generations before us, nearly all Millennials have the opportunity to go to college and travel abroad. Gambian Millennials, however, do not have the chance to go to college, nor even high school. In fact, almost all Millennials here have never left the country and will not move out of their village. As a result, they, like some of my friends that grew up poor, are obsessed with making money, as I’ll bet the generation that grew up during the Great Depression was.

How has this experience changed you?

I am much more adventurous and brave than I was before I came here. In other words, I’m way less lazy; I push myself a lot more physically. At home, I would have to walk a trail before I biked it, in case there was a huge hill or something. Here, I just find some random trail in the bush and bike it with no idea where I’m going, and I just ride until I get tired or reach a village. I also eat a much larger variety of foods, which may have something to do with the bravery, but more likely is because of how little good food I eat here.

How much has this changed  your outlook, your long-term goals, ect?

My goals and vision for my future have changed drastically. Before coming here, I was dead-set on a career in development. I had a 5-year plan and made all my academic choices to further that goal. But after being here one year, I now have no desire to ever work in the development field in the future, unless it is to reform the way current aid and NGOs operate. Development aid, which does not include conflict or crisis aid, is not the solution, it’s the problem. Aid has completely immobilized Gambians and convinced them that they are unable to carry out any project without the assistance of an outsider.

I can only speak to my experiences here, but I would fight to end all development aid (again, not including conflict or crisis aid) to Africa before I would ever consider increasing it.

How does this experience make you look at your own life, family, education, differently? 

It took a lot of adjusting, self-reflecting and flexibility to learn how to be healthy and happy here, but I did it. Through this process, I realized that my job alone will not make me happy or feel successful. I’ve stop caring about having a career with clout and influence and just want a job that makes me happy. I plan to try working in journalism, but starting my future career is no longer a huge priority. I want to experience as much of the world as I can right now and just do things that make me happy.

What do you plan to do when you return in the USA?

I will spend a few months visiting friends and family, but, ultimately, I want to keep traveling. I’m hoping to get an around the world ticket and spend 6-12 months traveling Asia and Latin America, but I need money for that. I’m looking into doing the JET Program (teaching English for a year in Japan) or serving as a PCV for another year in a country in Latin America.

So, you would renew your contract or join a similar organization?

Yes, I’m considering doing another year of Peace Corps service in Latin America. I would not, however, do a 2-week volunteer program and would only consider a 6-month or longer stint if I was fluent in the local language, because that’s not enough time to make any real, sustainable changes. At first I thought 2 years was far too long, but after being here, I realize it’s totally crucial. There’s no point in even beginning a project unless you’ve taken the time to assess the community and its need, which alone, when done properly, takes almost 6 months.

Heather Huhman

Full disclosure: I work with Heather as the external relations director of GoodieRecruit.

Heather Huhman is your typical over-achieving, type A, never sleeps, always connected, fully loaded, energizer bunny. At twenty-seven years old she still falls into the category of Gen Y, but her resume reads more like someone twenty years her senior.

Huhman is already an accomplished public relations professional, owner of her own business (Come Recommended), an experienced hiring manager, author of one eBook and one book being published in early 2010, and mentor to many recent college graduates looking for a job. In her free time she writes a column for examiner.com, blogs over at Dan Schawbel’s Personal Branding Blog, and tweets about entry-level PR jobs.

I spoke with Heather about her often misunderstood generation, the Millennials

Come Recommended connects entry-level job seekers (millennials) with hiring organizations. Why did you start Come Recommended?

As a hiring manager, I saw some major flaws in the system. Namely, I would make it through two rounds of interviews with a candidate, only to call references and find out they looked great on paper, performed great during the interview, but would disappoint on the job. It’s important to note this problem is not limited to Millennials.

There are so many misconceptions about Gen Y, which one frustrates you the most?

Unfortunately, the few ruin it for the many, as there are members of our generation that fully embody every single misconception out there.

Personally, the one that irks me the most is age = unqualified. I once lead a client account for more than a year at a PR agency, completely turning around their presence in the media. They went from approximately five placements per year to more than 100 – and they became regular spokespeople for a number of hot local topics. Despite all that, when the client found out my age, I was removed from the account altogether. Period. No discussion.

You speak to Gen Y audiences, as well as the older generations hiring them. Which misconception(s) seem to frustrate Gen Y the most?

The idea that Gen Y often acts “entitled” seems to stir up the most conversation on both sides. Gen Y was raised differently than Gen X and the Baby Boomers, and every generation is misunderstood about something. In my opinion, Gen Y isn’t entitled (for the most part, anyway!) – they want to work hard and prove their worth, fast.

Do you find the same stereotypes that frustrate Gen Y job candidates, also frustrate the hiring managers?

It’s all about creating ongoing conversation and managing expectations. Gen Y knows their supervisors think they’re entitled, so they should talk about their goals within the organization and create a plan for getting there – together. Employers believe Gen Y is entitled, so give them prompt feedback – for better or worse – on a regular basis.

You’ve recently started The Classroom to Cubicle Project to document recent college graduates on their journey to finding entry-level work. What do you hope to accomplish with this project?

So many students and recent graduates falsely believe they have everything it takes to land an entry-level job. How can they possibly know something they’ve never been taught? It’s not taught in college, and very few students visit their career centers.

Each week, all 16 participants (a mix of December 2009 and May 2010 graduates) are given career advice they must apply to their own situations to share with readers. I’m hoping they truly learn from the experience, and document their actions for others.

Do you believe The Classroom to Cubicle Project will help dispel some of the stereotypes surrounding Gen Y?

Perhaps. Some of the participants have amazing backgrounds! And we didn’t pick people based on their current résumés – it was first-come, first-served. But dispelling stereotypes was definitely not the first goal.

When you put on your hiring manager hat, what qualities do you look for specifically in Gen Y candidates? Do you like to put them in mock scenarios to see how they respond to a situation?

There are three qualities I tell students that stand out no matter the position for which I’m hiring: passion, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

“Behavioral interviewing” – when you put candidates in mock scenarios to see how they respond – is very popular now, and I’m a big believer! I put candidates in situations that very well might arise on the job, and have many times eliminated candidates based on their answers.

Is this why you started GoodieRecruit, a service of Come Recommended?

Not entirely, although I do believe the half- or full-day on-the-job experience we put candidates through gives them an opportunity to shine – or not – in those three areas.

Do you believe there is a unique way that Gen Y needs to be managed in the workplace?

There are so many books out there about managing Gen Y. And yes, there are definitely certain techniques, such as giving them freedom in many areas (what time they start, what time their day ends, where they work from, etc.). However, in my experience as a hiring manager, every needs to be managed in a slightly different way. This was probably the hardest thing for me to learn when I first became a manager. There’s just no one cookie-cutter approach.

What do you think of recent stunts that some young job candidates have pulled to gain attention (video resumes and so on)?

I’m actually not one for stunts. Like most hiring managers, results matter most to me.

How relevant do you think recruiting sites like Monster.com and Career Builder will be five or ten years from now?

According to all the statistics, these sites keep growing. I don’t fault the job boards – I fault the lazy hiring managers. In my opinion, job boards simply don’t produce quality candidates. Or, if they do, they’re somewhere in an endless pile. That’s just not the way to go about hiring the best and brightest.

What types of online recruiting will give those sites a run for their money?

Social media, for one. The future of recruiting is in one-to-one conversations and handpicked candidates.