Gen Z: The Generation of War

As the older generations of the world watch Russia invade Ukraine, unleashing what many fear will be the biggest war in Europe since World War II and potentially affecting global fuel and food prices, the kids and young adults of the world may be absorbing not just their words, but also their tension. Whether they’re teenagers reading the news themselves or little kids catching snippets of scary words like “bombing” and “war,” chances are that most kids and young adults know something scary is happening.

The majority of Gen Z kids were born right after the 9/11 tragedy. The several post-9/11 wars participated in by the United States in its war on terror began when Gen Z came into this world. Navigating the fallout of those post-9/11 wars has been nothing short of mentally and emotionally exhausting. According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), grinding diplomatic conflicts have increasingly affected the mental health of boys and girls, causing nightmares, social isolation, and panic attacks. 

Born between the years of 1997-2012, Gen Z has been through it all. We have seen the worst of humanity. Our childhoods have been defined by unique experiences and despite these challenges, Gen Z has prevailed as the most educated, diverse, and funny generation yet. 

Gen Z has the power to transform our societal standards, and ensure liberty and justice to combat all forms of adversity. Gen Z is painfully aware, highly driven, politically competent, and extremely civically engaged. Our age does not define us nor degrade our ability to comprehend real-world phenomena.

I am constantly in awe of my generation and how far we go to be recognized and heard. Seeing my peers participate in protests, political rallies, reform movements and community engagement activities gives me hope for the future. Gen Z has made significant progress in such a minuscule amount of time. As cliché as it sounds, the sky's the limit for Gen Z. Our charisma and motivation to enact change in our communities is both inspiring and revolutionary. 

Gen Z is based upon foundational support and guidance. We empathize and express our compassion for one another, and we aspire to be the absolute best version of ourselves. We share, we digress, we reflect, we fight, but most importantly, we celebrate. That in itself is truly beautiful and profound. I am proud to be affiliated with such extraordinary and intelligent individuals. Gen Z gives me hope that our future is in good hands. 

Gen Z will prevail.