Generation Z Will we let COVID19 define us
generation zed
will we let covert 19 define us
will we allow coronavirus to dictate the
narrative for our generation
generation zed was being labeled as the
generation of opportunity
the limitless generation the generation
who would change the world for the
better
we are now the generation who is living
through coronavirus
and will have to live with all of the
challenges that the virus has brought
about
generation z is the cohort born between
1995 to 2010
a generation who has access to more
opportunities than ever before
we’re able to educate ourselves for free
and at our own pace via youtube
we’re able to start businesses for free
and market ourselves via instagram
we’re able to share our thoughts for
free and with the masses
via twitter we have been blessed with
opportunities
that no other generation has ever had
which means we interact with the world
around us in a different way to
any past generation
the way we interact with each other and
attempt to solve problems
has completely changed no longer do we
need to go to a post office
and write letters or buy stamps to stay
in touch with friends
we just use snapchat no longer
do we need to go to a library and spend
hours finding books to gain information
we just use google life has been
relatively easy for us
in a lot of different ways but we are
currently facing
our biggest hurdle yet a hurdle which
many truly believe will be a defining
moment
for our entire generation something that
our great great grandchildren will study
in history classes one day
we cannot neglect what covert 19 has
done to us
as a global populace millions of deaths
tens of millions of cases families torn
apart
all across the globe global economies
ruined
it is impossible to neglect this virus
has done to all of us
that i cannot stress enough this virus
has
and will continue to affect our lives
irreversibly
we the youth have lost loved ones we
face the toughest job market in a
generation
we’ve lost countless opportunities we’ve
not been able to make and meet new
friends
which is the very essence of our early
lives
in just six months after the
announcement of lockdown
the samaritans received 1.2 million
phone calls with
25 percent of callers expressing that
they are having suicidal thoughts
this is a period of complete and utter
destruction and unfortunately
we still have a relatively long way to
go
now i’ve been lucky i have not lost a
loved one to covert
the worst thing that’s happened to me
was enduring lockdown in the same way
that we all had to
so i do speak from a position of
immensely good fortune
however with this unwanted period of
empty time
there has been one real question that
keeps coming to mind
will we as a generation allow this virus
to determine our futures
and the narrative surrounding our cohort
just over a year ago we were the
generation who will change the world
with our adoption of technology as well
as a genuine interest in moving towards
an entirely sustainable planet
i do not believe that this has changed
even in the darkest times we can find
reasons for hope and strength
without overlooking the absolutely
devastating negatives
we can ask what have we learned from
this period
and how can we use it to better
ourselves going forward
we’ve had so much time to stop pursuing
our passions
usually to start following your own true
desires and passions
you need to take a bit of a risk
potentially quit your job
or forsake your social life most of us
are no longer commuting to work
many of us are put onto schemes such as
furlough we’re not allowed to even go
into work
bars and restaurants in some parts of
the world remain closed to this day
now these restrictions are not a dream
come true please do not get me wrong
but they have provided us with a chance
to focus on our personal goals
we cannot see our friends so readily so
now we’re able to focus that time
into personal projects maybe that’s
building a business
making an album of songs or starting a
charity
now the path of using time gained from
recently lost opportunities for personal
development
is one that many have decided to tread
america is seeing a 13-year high for new
businesses starting
owing entirely to coronavirus we’re
seeing
thousands of new content creators
growing followings of millions of people
using their creative talents on
platforms like tiktok
it’s a common truth that sometimes a
little bit of chaos
can actually provide us with the
opportunities that we need in order to
shape our own destinies
recessions always lead to new
organizations and leaders emerging
general motors launched just after the
1907 crisis
cnn took to air when the u.s inflation
hit 15
in 1980 and modern organizations like
airbnb
and uber all rose to prominence after
the 2008 global financial crisis
throughout history periods of turmoil
have always allowed for new leaders to
shine
and new ideas to grow throughout this
period we are currently going through
maybe you’ve had the chance to start
thinking about your long-term ambitions
what can you be doing to get yourself
ahead
there will be thousands of young people
who also want to achieve
your long-term goals what can you be
doing
to get yourself ahead to ensure that you
put yourself
in the best position to achieve your own
long-term objectives
of others want to do the same thing that
you do
so let’s start using our pockets of time
wisely now
to ensure that we can fulfill our
potential
this is your chance to get ahead and
ensure that you’re on the right pathway
to fulfilling your potential and
reaching your long-term goals
we’ve always been a generation with
everything we could ever need or want at
our fingertips
but maybe these tools that we grew up
with and we’re so blessed to have had
have actually made it harder for us to
break out to thrive
maybe this is our generation’s first
moment to start breaking through
now everyone’s attention has been
diverted and completely rightfully so
but maybe this is our chance to start
laying the foundations
for ourselves to fulfill our personal
long-term objectives
one of the things we must remember
particularly as i speak from a british
perspective
after every recession there is a spike
in recruitment
so using this time wisely now for
personal development
even if your music doesn’t achieve the
numbers you hope or your business
doesn’t take off as you’d expect
one thing that is for certain is that
you’re getting yourself ahead of the
competition
ready for when companies begin hiring
again
this is a chance to really expand your
horizons to develop
your own skills and you know for sure
that you’ll benefit from doing it one
way or another
also i believe that there has never been
a generation better placed
to deal with the job crisis like our
generation
we are a generation who is consistently
proving ourselves to be great at
creating our own opportunities through
enterprise
this is what we are known for in a way
that no other generation has been
dedicating this additional time we’ve
unwillingly been dealt
productively to your own personal
projects will allow you to progress
without a doubt so what are you waiting
for
use this 10 minutes or so now to reflect
and give yourself some perspective
we’ve been so lucky we now face a tough
time
but we know that tough times only bring
out the best in the world
the best leaders the best ideas the best
talents
now what are you going to do in order to
make the most of this period
are you going to ensure that this period
will be one that our great great
grandkids look back on and say
this was the generation who embraced
innovation and caused
major social changes this really is our
chance
to determine our own narrative here
there’s a reasonably cliched quote but i
think it’s a truthful one
tough times do not last but tough people
do
i believe truly and wholeheartedly that
we are a generation of resilient
persistent and creative people no matter
what the media speculates
or what youtube comments sections say
about us belonging to the
snowflake generation we are a generation
that faces a constant flyer of rejection
a generation that must keep up with
constant changes
and innovations a generation who feels
like they have to be perfect
or face being cancelled so what will you
do
starting today to ensure that you come
out of this period
in a better position than how you came
into it
throughout the talk the narrative is
really focused on why we should worry
about ourselves
and almost selfishly use this time to
benefit us individually
let’s not forget why it’s important for
us the youth as a collective
to step up we shape and drive innovation
we the youth have such an important role
to play
the world economic forum said that we’re
on the cusp of a fourth industrial
revolution
highlighting creativity as one of the
top three most important soft skills to
have
with speculation surrounding creativity
to take the number one spot
i don’t know about you but when i think
creativity my mind
instantly paints a picture of young
people coming together
to build the future so if we are
as the world economic forum predicts on
the cusp of a fourth
industrial revolution then i don’t think
it’s too bad to claim that
we our generation generation zed will be
at the forefront of it
so if you are the type of person who
wants to be driving change
either from the front as a leader or
from behind the scenes
right now is your opportunity to get
ahead to start pushing yourself
and your ideas forward generation zed
has always been one that is bold
with covert being a time of pain and a
time of uncertainty
it will lead to more people being
hesitant but this is the time to take a
risk
someone has to be the next big musician
entrepreneur
or activist this all is not just to
benefit yourself
but society as a whole is relying on us
to be ready for this fourth industrial
revolution
our generation has already been standing
up
alissa carson the 19 year old astronaut
in training and is preparing to be the
first
human on mars yet again generation zed
is proving
that we can accomplish well-defying
achievements at younger ages
than ever before young people are also
using their voices to influence society
in the most meaningful of ways
individuals like bermini love
nadia okamoto and gabby edlin have
campaigned tirelessly for years
to ensure that the tampon tax is to be
removed and in 2020
we saw nations like great britain and
states all across the usa wake up
and begin to change laws as a direct
consequence of the work
these young people put in well let’s
think about marcus rashford
who used his platform to make sure young
people did not go hungry throughout
lockdown
and beyond forcing the british
government to rectify their own policy
and to act rapidly marcus then also held
the government accountable
for their shortfallings and reacted to
his demands ensuring
free meals were available for all young
people
we the youth are beginning to shape our
environments
at a younger age than ever before it is
important not just for ourselves
but for society as a whole that we stand
up for our beliefs
and keep pursuing our passions it’s also
important that we look out for each
other
this period is one that is mentally
draining our generation is known for
being one that looks to offer support
both physically and emotionally only by
supporting one another
will we be able to come out of this
period in the best possible way
even in the darkest times we can find
reasons for hope and strength
the best way to do this is by supporting
one another so we can all find
our own hopes and our own strengths
so no matter what your driving force is
becoming a performer
an entrepreneur or an activist right now
is the most important period of our
lives to wake
up and realize that we’ve been blessed
with so many opportunities
for the overwhelming majority of us
currently overlook
now is the time to get ahead and become
the change makers that we’ve always
wanted to have been
and we’ve always predicted to be now is
the time to support one another
to ensure we can all make the most of
our opportunities
we are now the generation who is living
through coronavirus
and will have to live with all of the
devastating challenges covert has
brought about
generation zed is the generation of
opportunity
the limitless generation the generation
who will change the world for better
will we allow coronavirus to dictate the
narrative
for our generation
thank you