If you're between the ages of 21 and 29, are you cocky, self-absorbed, disrespectful -- in short, a brat?

Or, are you part of the least-appreciated generation of savvy hard workers, as opposed to the most coddled?

A new survey by JWT, one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States, discovered some interesting findings about the "Millennial Generation."

The results are that Millennials are not as self-centered and immature as the similarly aged characters in movies like "Knocked Up" or MTV's "The Hills."

It turns out, according to JWT, that Millennials actually are self-aware, worldly -- and driven.

"While previous generations have also been derided for lacking respect and a serious work ethic -- Generation X, after all, was labeled the 'slacker' generation -- Millennials face more than just a conventional generational divide," said Ann Mack, director of trendspotting at JWT.

Some of the findings from the survey include the following myths vs. realities:

Perception: Millennials' attitudes toward the workplace are far too casual.

False: Two-thirds of Millennials (67 percent) agree that a formal appearance at the workplace is important for career success, which is slightly more than 30-somethings (65 percent) and well ahead of 40-somethings (54 percent) and the 50-plus group (56 percent).

Perception: Millennials suffer from arrested development and just want jobs that let them play at work: shoot hoops, play video games, goof around with colleagues.

Both true and false: Millennials are drawn to companies like Google that offer fun and stimulation as part of the job. But Millennials also are working hard -- many of those "fun" companies outperform more traditional companies.

Marc Abramson, an attorney in a Chicago law office, said Millennials sound like him when he was 20 -- 30 years ago.

"Nothing changes except the name given to each generation," Abramson said.

Perception: Millennials experience a 20-year adolescence. After college, they move back in with and mooch off their parents.

False: Only 15 percent of Millennials live with their parents; 62 percent live with a partner, and another 15 percent live alone.

Another attorney, Michael Sullivan, said as one of the oldest members of Generation X, he's a little unsettled with those statistics showing how hard-working and diligent the Millennials are.

"If those stats are true, I fear for myself and for my generation that we may soon be eclipsed," Sullivan said.

"We've been slacking for over 20 years and don't know any other way. It's only a matter of time before I'm working for them."

More than 1,200 Americans (19 percent represent the leading edge of the Millennial generation) responded to the survey. Andrea Harty, a 25-year-old nurse from Valparaiso, was not one of them. So what are her thoughts?

"I think as far as my generation is concerned, we are faced with some very harsh realities," Harty said.

"We are either faced with going straight into the workforce or going straight into post-secondary education. Due to the economic issues that our parents face as being the 'sandwich generation' having to care for their parents and us as children, we have to take the challenge to begin caring for ourselves immediately as young adults, or somehow contributing to the household if still living with parents."

Harty found it difficult at first to take on the challenge of being the sole provider for her education and well-being.

"However, it has given me a greater sense of pride and strength in doing so," she said.

Harty admits she does notice some people, because they've been handed "so many things" while growing up, really have no sense of pride in hard work.

"Expectation is, that since it was handed to me before, why not now? Well now, unfortunately, due to our economic situation as a country, parents can no longer even afford to provide for their children, especially in the education department," Harty said.

"I have realized by 'being on my own' that working two jobs and obtaining a college degree is a very large undertaking with a well-deserved reward -- a sense of accomplishment."

Jessica Figurski of Crown Point is a college student in her early 30s whose classmates are Millennials. She says that some of those students are working full- or part-time jobs and still maintaining good grades.

"It seems to me that what these 'kids' know is that entitlement means 'if you work hard, you will succeed in life,' " Figurski said.

"The word 'entitlement' is associated with the words 'hard work.' "

Paul Gonzalez is a 25-year-old Hammond resident and current student at Ball State University. Gonzalez, who works at Outback Steakhouse while attending class full time, believes his peers are hard workers regardless if it's related to school or work.

"I've seen it both ways in Hammond, where friends my age are working in factories or at the steel mill, and at school," Gonzalez said.

"In Muncie, we work hard, but in a different way. You might not be breaking your back, but you're using your head."

Finally, here's what Chicago college professor, William Pelz proffered regarding Millennials:

"From ancient Athens, there survive documents telling how the elders of the city were upset about the laxity of the young.

"I have no doubt that if cavemen left diaries, we'd be able to read, 'These kids today have no idea how to sharpen a rock.' "