A college freshman today…

As 18-year-0lds pack their mini-fridges and extra-long twin sheets in preparation for their first year at college, older America sighs and shakes their collective head at how young they are.  Born in 1991, they know a different world than we do.  The “mindset” list is published every year by Beloit College.  I’ve kept the best of this year’s list below, plus added a few of my own. 

For today’s college freshmen:

• Mike Tyson has always been a felon.
• Magic Johnson has always been HIV-positive.
• Christopher Columbus has always been getting a bad rap.
• Salsa has always outsold ketchup.
• Tattoos have always been chic.
• Rap has always been mainstream.
• Someone has always been asking: “Was Iraq worth a war?”
• State abbreviations in addresses have never had periods.
• Women have always outnumbered men in college.
• The European Union has always existed.
• The American health care system has always been in critical condition.
• There has always been a Cartoon Network.
• They have always been able to read books on an electronic screen.
• They have always watched wars unfold on television in real time.
• They have never used a card catalog to find a book.

And my additions:

• Nelson Mandela has always been free
• There was always only one Germany
• Michael Jackson was always pale
• David Archuleta was always alive
• The Exxon Valdez has always been empty
• The Tonight Show was always hosted by Jay Leno
• They have never seen anything below Windows 3.0

 

HT to Scot McKnight