Dear Sir,

I am a millennial and I am writing to give a voice to our generation and to speak against the unfair constant obstacles we have to face simply to survive.

Statistics show that the millennials are the most educated out of all the generations, but yet we are known as “The Unemployed” generation.

Why is that? How did we get that title?

Although we have an education, we are struggling. Struggling to find a job, which leads to not being able to have a savings. Which leads to not owning our own homes. Which leads to not having children/family. And all of this leads to depression.

I blame our kryptonite, Generation X, for this. The millennials are often associated with stigmas such as “laziness”, “selfishness”, “lack of motivation”, and for those non-factual reasons we have to jump through hurdles to survive.

Once again I use the word “survive”. To survive means to continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.

Did you know that, according to companies, to become an administrator, administrative assistant, executive assistant, which all fall under the definition of a secretary, one must possess an associate’s degree? Entry-level positions are also associated with an associate’s degree.

Those who haven’t had the luxury of a college education are doomed and those who have a college education are often overqualified for many job positions or are greeted with the “you have no experience” — a metaphorical door being slammed in their face.

Oftentimes, people are forced to work in housekeeping, as a cashier, as a pool attendant or in other jobs that are either seasonal or pay little to nothing. Nothing is wrong with these positions, but why is it that the most educated generation has to be forced to work these jobs?

Once upon a time, not too long ago, Generation X had opportunities by being able to advance in a career to become a supervisor/manager, simply by having enough grit. If that is the case, why is the same generation that was awarded opportunities making it impossible for the generation behind them?

It is now mandatory to sit a writing exam to be successful in a housekeeping department in a well-known establishment in Bermuda. That is ludicrous.

The hypocrisy oozes through the ink of the black words written on a white paper or white screens in the qualification section in job applications. Millennials are forced to continuously sledgehammer a brick wall that won’t budge because the generations before us placed it there.

We have to continuously prove our worth with no rewards or benefits, to then be forced to pack up and flee the island in the hope of a better future. Millennials should not have to be forced to get a college education, forced to not start a family, forced to relocate, or anything else, all because a generation that had opportunities refuses to give us any.

I urge the Government to pay attention to these statistics, to pay attention to our outcry.

We are “The Most Educated” generation but are “The Most Unemployed” generation.

I speak out for the voiceless and speak against the hypocrisy,

AVA JAMES