‘Eighties babies’ enter real world

Eighties babies are all grown up — or are they? Now that many born in the ‘80s are getting ready to enter the "real world," some people think the generation will have trouble coping with reality because of their pampered childhoods.

Since most of the students at JMU were born between 1982 and 1986, this stereotype categorizes virtually the entire student population. People in their late teens to mid-20s are viewed as being spoiled and incapable of functioning in a team environment, according to USA Today.

"I think that students from the ’70s to mid-‘80s have different challenges to confront," said Shirley Cobb, associate director of the Counseling and Student Development Center. "You have both parents working now, and preschool and after-school programming." The structure of the family is different now with both parents working — pre-school and after school programs help today’s children grow and learn outside the home, Cobb said.

Cobb has noticed that parents call JMU and check in on their son or daughter more often than they used to.

"I think there is a time when parents will have to let go, because a parent’s number one job is to do such a good job that they are not needed anymore," Cobb said. "They need to know that their child can make it without them, and I don’t think that many of them think that just yet."

Freshman Emily Resetco does not believe that she was spoiled growing up, but was simply given more opportunities to excel.

"I don’t think that because I’ve been given extra things in my life that I won’t be able to function in the real world; I think I’d benefit from it," Resetco said. "I was given a computer, went to different camps and visited France when I was younger, so I had more resources available to me."

Resetco does, however, believe some of her friends might fall into the stereotype in the sense that they will have a hard time coping with the real world.

Senior Megan Voss said, "I think that ‘spoiled’ has to do with who raised you, not what time period you were raised in. You can be born wealthy and grow up not spoiled if your parents raised you with the right value system; you can still know the value of a dollar and hard work."

Senior Leigh Ann Haney, on the other hand, agrees with the stereotype. She thinks many of her peers cannot do anything for themselves. "I don’t think that I’ll have a problem because my father has raised me in a way that without him, I can function on my own," Haney said. "I don’t think other parents took the time to teach them how to do things on their own."

Haney admits she is spoiled because she is an only child, but she does not think it will affect her ability to function in the workforce once she graduates in May. "My dad owns a business that requires teamwork, and I’ve been working inside his business ever since I can remember," she said. "I like working on a team, but I can also work alone."

Harrisonburg resident Lanny Holsinger has two children, born in 1984 and 1989. Holsinger said he believes not all stereotypes are true and children of every generation have been said to have been pampered. He believed in giving his children Emily and Natalie some things, but then saying no to other things.

"My daughters have worked since they were 14 and 15, which has taught them responsibility and how to work well with others," Holsinger said.