The world is already aware of Generation Z’s impact.
Born between the mid-90s and the early 2010s, Generation Z has been through an insurmountable amount of societal highs and lows. Coming into this world during a recession isn’t the optimal position to be in when it comes to a society that proves human worth on the human work ethic.
However, Gen Z is surviving worse: an on-going climate crisis, the Coronavirus pandemic and systematic racism, to name a few.
Generation Z is (rightfully) displeased by the oppression that plagues our nation and our world, and isn’t scared to team up and address these issues. According to junior Criminal Justice major Kylie Carroll, Gen. Z listens to research and offers empathy, which is the perfect combination for growth.
“We are teachable and we’re able to kind of soak in information as it comes at us, and we’re not so quick to dismiss it,” Carroll said.
Statistically speaking, Gen Z tends to lean more liberal, like the Millennials born before. A survey completed by the Pew Research Center in 2018 showed that 70 percent of Gen Z wanted an activist government.
“I feel like Generation Z is driven by diversity. We grew up with a bunch of technology, which exposed us to a whole bunch of different varieties of things. So, we now know about more Middle Eastern culture and what they’re going through and understand some of their struggles,” freshman Political Science major Sam Millerd said. “Now we’re advocating for them. We’re also now advocating, even more, because we’re coming of age, for minorities in America as well.”
Gen Z tends to advocate for those who are in situations where suffering can be combated with government assistance. The amount of knowledge this generation has available at practically any second of the day makes Gen Z aware of the issues that plague our communities, nation and the world around us.
“That can be a really good thing and a really bad thing because, with all the ways that information can be spread now, I think it can lead to a lot of misinformation,” junior Musical Theater major Ryan Heinsheimer said. “But it allows people to be educated in ways maybe previous generations haven’t been able to [be].”
Globally, Gen Z has created its own culture of knowledge, comedy, slang terms and wisdom within different types of social media platforms. Creative platforms like TikTok allow this generation to connect with more than just those within our community. Gen Z can also be made aware of firsthand accounts from practically any individual in the world.
As for traditional education, Gen Z has more opportunities to pursue their education further than many generations before, with more and more first-year generation students attending college, deeming education a priority and understanding that it goes hand in hand with success.
Despite Gen Z’s need for instant gratification within the daily facets of their life, they are forced to wait for the societal changes so desperately sought after.
Waiting patiently may be difficult, but it will be worth it. Gen Z strives towards forward ways of thinking with consideration of the planet and those whose voices have historically been oppressed.
