We know all about Millennials. You know, those selfish, narcissistic and lazy kids who walk around with a sense of entitlement. Or do we?
Because three SUNY New Paltz roommates — Reese Werkhoven, Cally Guasti and Lara Russo — have just called the popular caricature into question.
Recently, they went to a Salvation Army outlet, where they bought a ratty old couch for $20. They picked it because it was the only one that would fit in their tiny room.
So they brought it home. Turns out they were sitting on a fortune — literally. While watching a movie, one of them felt a bump in the cushion, which turned out to be an envelope with $700.
They began looking through the rest of the couch. Before they were done, they’d unearthed $40,000.
Let’s just put that in perspective: Annual tuition at SUNY New Paltz is roughly $6,000 per year for a New York state resident. Even split three ways, $40,000 would go a long way toward that bill, not to mention reducing the need for the college loans that are dragging so many students down.
But instead of keeping the money, they tracked down the woman whose name was on the envelope. When they reached her, she explained she was a widow who used the couch to stash savings for herself and her husband. Her daughter had sold the couch when she was in the hospital.
In the end, the widow had her savings restored, and with the $1,000 she gave the kids, they can even afford a newer and nicer sofa. All because three young people opted for honesty, even when no one was looking.
Not a bad example — for people of any generation.