Millennials might appear an inherently flawed group of individuals. They are seemingly idealistic to the point where they are unrealistic, self-confident to the point of arrogance, empathetic to the point where they feel too much but think too little and optimistic to the point of narcissism.

However, Millennials’ disproportionate share of negative values does not mean that they represent the so-called “worst generation in history,” as espoused by many critics of this group of individuals. Rather, Millennials’ disproportionate share of these character flaws only emphasizes that they are normal—the same as every other generation that has been and will be. After all, Millennials are only human and more importantly, young.

Although this generation’s problems have been greatly emphasized, the same, if not nearly identical, things have been said about generations preceding Millennials. At one point in history, Baby Boomers, those who often criticize Millennials, were also once called the most selfish generation in the history of the United States. In addition, from the Baby Boomers, ‘Generation Xers’ were labeled as a uniquely entitled and coddled generation. Similar to the Baby Boomers and Generations Xers of the past, Millennials are no different from the once young and equally naïve generations of the past.

Despite what they were called in the past, today’s Baby Boomers and Generation Xers are no longer the “selfish generation” because over time, the people of these generations grew older and much more mature. In fact, from once being seen as rebellious and selfish youths by their parent’s generation, the people of these two older generations have gained the respect of many Millennials who look to Baby Boomers and Generation Xers as a wiser and more experienced group of adults. Similar to Baby Boomers’ and Generation Xers’ period of naivete, Millennials are going through this same phase of adolescence. With time, Millennials will also one day grow into maturity and be viewed as wise individuals by future generations.

Millennials are going through their own bildungsroman, a story of maturity and coming of age. Rather than criticizing Millennials for their inherent character flaws, problems that aren’t unique to just Millennials, Baby Boomers and Generations Xers should cut them some slack. All generations go through their own period of immaturity. Unrealistic, arrogant, impulsive, and narcissistic. One might be able to say these things about today’s youth, but one could also say it about the adolescents of any other era.