I’m spoiled. I’ll admit it because it’s completely true; I have never gone without in my life (P.S. a parent telling you no on the iPhone isn’t going without.) I’ve been lucky enough to have parents that have provided a very, very comfortable standard of living. And I know that I am not alone here. Unfortunately, it’s not been good for me in the long run, and it’s not good for our generation.

With the economy hitting my family hard, I’ve had to learn to live with less. For probably the first time in my life, I have had to make sacrifices and watch the spending. Although I am embarrassed to say it, it’s been an incredibly difficult adjustment. I suppose I always just expected to get what I want but with little in return. It’s just now becoming obvious to me of how being so spoiled will hurt me in the ‘real world’ and how our whole generation will follow in suit.

Our generation has even been dubbed the “Entitlement Generation” in honor of our spoiled attitude. It’s defined as the group born between 1979 and 1994 who believe they are owed certain rights and benefits without further justification. Basically, we feel like we are entitled to everything without earning it and I couldn’t agree more that our generation acts in this manner. But, this mind-set is totally wrong and the world will prove to be very cruel if we continue with this illogical thinking. Instead of expecting things handed to us, we have to learn how to go out there and get it for ourselves.

So then, the question becomes how do we get it for ourselves and lose the “entitlement” brand? One way includes working in school for grades, and then taking responsibility for whatever they may be. Rather than be fast to blame someone else when the grade is bad, accept that you need to work harder. Other ways include paying for that phone you’ve been dying to have, or paying for your own car, doing your own laundry, or even paying for college rather than expecting money from your parents.

Because one thing is for sure, the world owes you nothing and if you don’t learn to work for it now, you won’t know how to work for it as an adult.