Jace Lamonica
Before memes poked fun at Gen X’s laid-back attitude, this generation earned real respect for skills and grit that few talk about today. Their quiet strengths shaped pop culture and the workplace long before smartphones ruled. Over time, much of that credit faded into the background. Here are ten things Gen X did well that deserve a second look.
Getting A College Degree
Back then, a diploma felt like a golden ticket to job security. Employers actively sought out candidates with a bachelor’s degree, and career paths often followed right after graduation. Today, skill-based hiring is gaining momentum as student debt surpasses $1.7 trillion.
Owning A Starter Home Young
The average first-time homebuyer in the 1990s was just 28. Rising wages, lower prices, and less debt made it possible to settle down early. These days, homeownership often begins closer to 36, delayed by student loans and soaring housing costs.
Writing Letters By Hand
There was something special about handwritten notes, especially those written in ink. Pen pals were common, and handwritten letters carried weight. But paper mail is disappearing as emails and digital messaging make communication instantaneous—and far less romantic.
Watching MTV For Music Videos
When the channel launched in 1981, it revolutionized how music was consumed. Teenagers glued themselves to screens to catch the latest videos and trends. Today, music premieres live on YouTube, and reality shows have taken over MTV’s spotlight.
Staying Loyal To One Company
Workplace longevity once meant pension plans and gold watches at retirement. It was a point of pride to stay with the same company for decades. But job-hopping is now more strategic for career growth, with few sticking around for more than four years.
Keeping A Rolodex Of Contacts
That spinning desktop file was the ultimate networking flex. Business cards were organized by hand and proudly displayed. However, modern tools like cloud-based contacts and platforms like LinkedIn now keep things tidy with fewer paper cuts involved.
Renting Movies At Video Stores
Walking into a rental store, browsing titles, and chatting with the clerk was a whole evening activity. Stores like Blockbuster once dominated weekend plans. Streaming made that ritual obsolete, with just one physical store left for nostalgia lovers in Oregon.
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Back when numbers lived in your head, knowing a dozen off by heart was normal. From best friends to pizza joints, muscle memory handled it all. Now, smartphones do the remembering, and most people struggle to recite even three numbers from memory.
Owning Encyclopedias At Home
Sets of Britannica lined bookshelves and helped solve homework crises. These tomes were considered essential in educated homes. With search engines offering instant answers, the final printed edition arrived in 2012, and physical encyclopedias became more of a decor than a reference.
Collecting CDs And Mixtapes
Curated music collections were once deeply personal. Making a mixtape took time and sometimes a Sharpie masterpiece. Streaming services changed how we consume and share music, replacing shelves of discs with swipeable playlists.
