Generation Z Defeating the Undefeatable

while i sit in my morning biology class

learning about dna replication

the headlines pop up

six years left to save the planet from

the irreversible effects of the climate

crisis

period poverty has surged across the

nation in the midst of the covid19

pandemic

and

women are 33 percent more likely to be

talked over and unheard

while it seems like these issues are

certainly portrayed in the media as

undefeatable forces

as if the only way in which one can

truly make a difference is by

stopping the issue in its entirety

it’s generation z who are looking at

these problems from a different

perspective

actively solving these global issues

head on

defeating the undefeatable

generation z is the cohort born between

1995 and 2010.

they’ve been heavily influenced by major

events cultural norms and social norms

but unlike any other generation

generation z has grown up in a world of

technological advances and innovations

my generation has never known a

non-digital world

you see we grew up with a phone in her

hand and a digital camera in our face

and if i’m being quite honest i likely

learned how to type before i learned how

to talk

with accessibility to an infinite amount

of knowledge on a search engine and

contact with millions of people through

social media

the question comes down to

how can social media be used to mediate

change on a global scale

we are a generation that no longer needs

expensive resources to make a difference

we simply need our voice

a voice that can be amplified across the

globe to millions of people at the click

of a button

we now

all have a platform to break through

that echo chamber bring attention to

stigmatized topics hear various points

of view and

ultimately

come together to make a difference

through social media people are more

aware than ever

world issues meet everyone’s social

media feeds within seconds and with

likes shares and retweets that

information is known to millions of

people worldwide

while one post may not single-handedly

make a difference

it’s the collective front of all those

who learn about the issue at hand and

work towards solving that problem that

makes the difference

that power of finding community and

reaching millions of people has already

launched social movements

mobilizing our generation

by inciting passion to create change

that power of finding community and

reaching millions of people within

seconds has already launched social

movements mobilizing our generation by

inciting passion to change the status

quo for the better with accessibility to

technology comes awareness and with

awareness comes action

and this action is a ripple effect

when one person speaks up those around

them learn about the issue and spread

that message increasing that awareness

the ripple effect continues as each new

person is aware and now has the ability

to take actionable steps to mitigate the

problem

whether that’s rallying through protests

contacting policymakers to enact

legislation that will solve the root

cause of the problem or even by simply

re-sharing the social media post

instead of technology defining us

we are the first to redefine technology

and utilize its power to create positive

change

with more than half of internet and

social media users under the age of 24

generation z has been at the forefront

of initiating this change the movement

to combat the global climate crisis and

slow global warming the push for the

removal of taxes when taking a stand

against period poverty

and fundraising movements are just a few

of the many social justice campaigns

that started and grew through social

media

from that growth change was enacted in

2018 after learning about the adverse

effects of global warming greta

thundberg was able to utilize social

media to reach tens of millions of

people globally to bring awareness to

global warming but also address policy

makers to enact change to protect our

planet

back in 2010 after a devastating

earthquake hit haiti the red cross

organization was able to raise 500

million dollars with the help of social

media with over 2 million tweets

spreading awareness about the earthquake

and fundraising for support on a similar

journey eight years ago i visited new

york city for the first time

from my view i remember looking up at

the buildings and wondering whether or

not the people on the highest floor

could see the clouds directly outside of

their window

i recognize the duality of new york as i

had crossed 38th street at the

intersection i noticed people laying on

the ground

holding up a cardboard sign

please help

was labeled in thick lettering

i stared at the man as i stood with my

family on the sidewalk waiting for the

pedestrian light to give us the signal

to continue walking

i couldn’t wrap my head around the fact

that just blocks from this street where

a poor homeless man stayed was wall

street

where some of the wealthiest people in

the world were people sat unknowing of

when their next meal would be and they

sat on the cold streets of new york

alone hoping that someone could help

them

i went home that day feeling helpless

i gave the remaining change i had to

that man but it didn’t feel like enough

from that point on

i refuse to sit idly by as people

undeserving of these harsh circumstances

suffer day to day without the resources

needed to survive

but at eight years old i questioned what

i could do to make a difference i didn’t

have any existing fundraising experience

or existing funds to start a campaign

all i knew was how to do and fold

origami

using the art of origami i was able to

fold intricate origami pieces sell them

and donate all the proceeds to those who

needed basic necessities

art was my form of expression

and folding each origami piece was my

token of appreciation to anyone who

bought one to show them that their money

was going to be used for a great cause

through social media i was able to

spread the word about my cause and my

mission

and it resonated

social media posts began to gain

traction and people began to grow more

aware of the poverty issues that were

prevalent in not just the united states

but globally

i didn’t realize it at the time but i

had found my voice that day in new york

a newfound passion to give back even

when it seemed like all the odds weren’t

in my favor

i’d found my voice but it was social

media that was able to build my

confidence and prove to myself that i

wasn’t just an eight-year-old kid

my voice mattered and it has the power

to create substantial positive change

as i grew up i came to understand the

power of one’s voice

i was lucky enough to find my confidence

early on the odds for many people who

look like me who are women and

especially women of color are

discouraged to speak up

i made it my mission to amplify the

voices of the leaders around me who are

part of those marginalized groups who

are advocating and initiating change on

a global scale

in a world that suppresses the voices of

so many women it’s so important that we

change that narrative and it was so

important that i use the voice that i

have to speak up for those who can’t

although we’re making progress the

gender gap and leadership roles and the

discouragement to speak up that women

face is far too large to be ignored

i created she the change

a podcast dedicated to highlighting

those female leaders who are part of

marginalized communities to support

their voices and encourage podcast

listeners to start their own initiatives

and take actions against injustice as

well

people have the means to use their

platform and technology to share their

story

but we live in a system where the voices

of women and underrepresented groups

aren’t kept in mind which is why it’s so

important that we need to change that

reality and start those conversations

now

empower the people around you

utilize the platform you have to

initiate that change and inspire

yourself to kick start your confidence

those headlines i had read earlier

they’ve changed

eighteen-year-old greta thunder speaks

to lawmakers to implement policy to

combat climate change

23 year old nadia okamoto tackles period

poverty and addresses over 1.5 million

periods

and

16 year old itasha dante works towards

changing prevailing power structures

of marginalized groups

generation z

is defeating the undefeatable one rally

at a time one post at a time

one voice at a time

and you have that power too