Why is Generation Z Different?

person holding black and brown globe ball while standing on grass land golden hour photographyThe world we grew up in and are continuing to develop in is crazy. We know that. However, I want to pose an idea. Everything that we, as a generation, have experienced has been a challenge, mentally, physically, and financially. Yet, somehow, the statistics show that we have an incredible gift that has arisen from our struggle. Gen Z is among the most optimistic and hard-working generations ever. We work hard, because we have seen the issues that arise from complacency. We care about the ethics of where we buy our products, because we watched as large corporations have taken advantage of the weak and wreaked havoc on our planet and our ecosystems. At the end of the day, though, we’re optimistic, because the power is in our hands. We have seen what happens if we do nothing and don’t challenge ourselves.

green plant in clear glass vase
First, let’s look at what we’ve experienced and see how it helped to shape who we are. Financial uncertainty is one of the first things that we saw as children. We saw how student debt was piling up into an abysmal mountain. We saw our siblings, and even parents. . . still struggling to move past this burden. Many of us made the choice to do something about it. A lot of us know we need to be smart about how we choose our degree or career path. Even if our higher education was “free”, or low-cost, we know that we need to make smart choices and not choose unprofitable majors, regardless of whether that means going against what other people think. Another significant improvement that I’ve seen a massive increase in, is the knowledge of the importance of investing at a young age. With the increasing availability of beginner investment options, there are a lot more ways to start saving our money and making it work for us, at a younger age. In essence, utilizing out finances and passions as an asset, not a liability. One app that I highly recommend for beginners is Acorns. This app is unique, in that it allows for long-term investment at a low price point. It is free for college students, and starts at $1 for everyone else. Another feature that I love, is that it allows you to round up your purchases and invest that money. For example, if you buy a coffee for $1.75, Acorns will round it up to $2.00 and invest $0.25 for you, essentially allowing you to grow your wealth - without really even noticing it. I will do a full review of my experience with investing apps in a future article. However, if you want to get started, you can use this link to get a free $5 investment https://acorns.com/invite/F589DH.


Generation Z holds the key to creating a better world. A world that sees the beauty in diversity. A world with less hate and love for both our fellow-man, and the environment that we live in. Regardless of our political views, many of us have seen that the earth and climate are changing. At the same time though, we know that we have the power to influence our leaders, our economy, and even the energy production industry to make the necessary changes as society evolves. We want a better world for our children, and the generations that follow us. We have seen what science and collaboration can do to save lives and provide a higher quality of life. We watched the hard work that gave us the technology that we have today - social media, the growth of the internet, smart phones, and even the explosion of the use of artificial intelligence. We know that ethics are key for progress. Without an ethical background, failure is inevitable, so we continue to use our influence - both our voice, and our buying power to shape the way things are done.

tilt-shift photography of shoesHonestly, I believe the most powerful thing about this generation is that we have a unique ability to motivate and challenge our peers. We grew up with social media, and we know how to use it for both good and for harm. Some of the most powerful movements in recent years have come from our generation standing up for change and standing against injustice. We know that, if we work together, we are unstoppable. That’s why I believe in The Gen Z Student, and that’s precisely where this idea of “growth through resilience” manifested itself. As a member of Gen Z, I have a passion for doing my part in cultivating this movement and encouraging positive peer-mentoring. Let’s build this strong, unshakable community.

- Please follow on Instagram @thegenzstudent.

Building a community is essential for this project, and I know that we can and will work together to promote the value of hard work and effort in the journey of personal growth and development, regardless of the challenges we face along the way.

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