Introduction
The article in question is written by Lynda Bekore and entitled “Are Millennials Too Big to Fail? Why Self-Esteem Is Blocking Our Kids From Success”. The article dwells upon reasons why the so-called millennials are not hardworking high-achievers and are not eager to take risks. Bekore worked as the “Social Sciences Editor” at Collier Encyclopedia, and now she is the Content Director at Tarkenton Companies (Lynda Bekore, 2015, para. 1).
The author has written a number of works on education and entrepreneurship (Lynda Bekore, 2015). Hence, she has the necessary credentials to write on the subject. She also provides valid arguments that are trustworthy as she refers to such reputable sources as the Wall Street Journal and Kaufman Foundation (Bekore, 2015). An example of her daughter’s studies is suggestive as she reveals the outcomes of the approach chosen by the majority of educators. The article in question addresses quite important issues, and the author raises the right questions as the young generation can simply become a bunch of inactive consumers, and the nation will soon find itself in economic, political, technological, and cultural stagnation.
Summary
The author states that millennials or people between 18 and 34 years old are unlikely to start a business or take similar risks. The author stresses that this is a result of parents’ and educators’ approaches who tend to focus on students’ self-esteem and to feel good rather than on their achievements. The author stresses that millennials have very high self-esteem, and they do not want to fail, as they are simply unprepared for failure. At the same time, the author is very optimistic as she believes that millennials will still take their chances and will become high-achievers. However, Bekore (2015) also adds that young people should remember the major rules of failing to succeed in their life.
Evaluation
The purpose of this article is to draw people’s attention to the outcomes of the focus on self-esteem rather than adequate assessment and real achievements. It is noteworthy that the author fulfills her aim as she shows the dark side of encouragement as young people do not need to go the extra mile, as they believe they deserve something better. The author’s major argument is as follows: young people should get adequate assessment of their accomplishments, as this will make them prepared for great success as well as failures and the ways to overcome them. The argument is strong as it is supported by detailed evidence, varied support strategies, and it is characterized by a clear organization of ideas.
First, the author employs different types of evidence, such as expert opinions, statistics, research studies, and real-life examples. For instance, the author mentions that over 40% of people in their mid-twenties do not want to start a business because of “fear of failure” (as cited in Bekore, 2015, para. 17). Such data show the dimension of the problem as almost half of the young people are unprepared to face real challenges and do not want to fail in any way (even if the risk can potentially result in significant benefits).
Bekore (2015) also refers to such reputable sources as the Kaufman Foundation and Wall Street Journal to support her argument. Many experts agree that millennials are risk-averse, and this statement is supported by particular surveys (Matchar, 2012). It is noteworthy that some experts can be more optimistic, but they still agree that millennials are too self-confident and inactive (Matchar, 2012). Furthermore, the author provides real-life examples of the outcomes of such an approach. She notes that her own daughter is becoming more risk-averse as she does not want to study hard since she is still praised by her teachers.
The result of such education is the girl’s average performance and unwillingness to work harder to perform better. This example makes readers look around and see similar cases among their own friends or acquaintances. It is also important to add that the information is provided in an orderly manner, and the article does not contain any fallacies, which contributes greatly to the article’s effectiveness. Finally, the author provides a strong ending that wraps up the major argument of the article.
Bekore (2015) stresses that there is a big problem with the approach used, but there is also a hope that millennials will be able to reconsider their attitudes and start focusing on achievements and victories. Importantly, the author provides some clues that can be used by millennials. The article deepens people’s understanding of the issue and provides many helpful insights. People are encouraged to form their own attitudes towards the focus on self-esteem. Millennials who might read the article are also invited to participate in the debate and think about their contribution or their future.
Conclusion
To sum up, it is possible to note that the article in question achieves its major goal as it raises people’s awareness on the dark side of the self-esteem orientation that has made the vast majority of millennials risk-aversive, too self-confident and even lazy. The author provides sufficient evidence to support the argument as statistical data, expert opinions, and real-life examples are included. The author uses simple language and provides arguments in an orderly manner.
At the same time, the article can be improved. For instance, the author could use more opinions of experts, especially those involved in the educational sphere. It could be effective to show that different opinions exist among educators as well. I would also like to add that I totally agree with the author, as I believe that educators and parents should not focus on young generations’ self-esteem as the world and progress are based on principles of competition. Of course, the contribution of each member is valuable, but it is impossible to achieve truly significant results without trying harder and going the extra mile. I also think that it is not fair and quite dangerous to praise everyone irrespective of his/her input. Young generations should be encouraged to try harder as this will lead to the progress and development of human society.
Reference List
Bekore, L. (2015). Are millennials too big to fail? Why self-esteem is blocking our kids from success. The Huffington Post. Web.
Lynda Bekore. (2015). Web.
Matchar, E. (2012). How those spoiled millennials will make the workplace better for everyone. The Washington Post. Web.