When demographer Neil Howe first coined the term "Millennial" back in 1991, he didn't expect it to become a loaded word for a generation some call lazy and entitled. But Howe is optimistic about this generation — and so are lots of Millennials.

At 18, Natalie Warne's work with the Invisible Children movement made her a hero for young activists. She calls on young people not to let age stop them from changing the world.

Psychologist Meg Jay has a message for 20-somethings: just because marriage, work and kids happen later, doesn't mean you can't start planning now. She tells 20-somethings how they can re-claim adulthood in the defining decade of their lives.

Charlie Hoehn graduated college during a recession, constantly hearing the mantra "you've got to take what you can get." But after months of rejection, he stopped following that advice. He describes how he built a career by working for free.

YouTube Trends Manager Kevin Allocca watches and thinks about popular videos for a living. He talks about how interactive participation has become a crucial part of entertainment — and that Millennials will only demand more.

Tavi Gevinson had a hard time finding strong female, teenage role models, so she built a space where they can find each other. She talks about how her site Rookie and others are putting an unapologetically uncertain and complex face on feminism.