Three Seasiders reflect on what it means to belong to Generation Z and the legacy they hope to leave behind
Generation Z, often referred to as Zoomers, includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012 and is widely recognized as the first cohort to grow up with the internet and social media as a constant presence, according to Today.
Claire Williams, Susana Elisaia and Alim Corsino, students within this generation, offered personal perspectives that explore how they navigate a digital world, redefine strength and speak out on issues that shape how their generation understands itself.
What we navigate
Corsino, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in social work, challenges the idea that technology simply makes life easier. “I do agree that it’s easier, but I don’t agree that it’s easy,” he said, pushing back on the assumption that access to technology simplifies everyday life.
"There’s always something hard that comes from these innovations, whether that be one way or another. Each generation poses its unique challenges and must figure out a way to overcome that," he said.
Corsino also pointed out how increased access to information has shaped awareness within his generation. “A lot of people in this generation are becoming more aware and know how to spot fake news and identify reliable sources.”
For Williams, a freshman from California majoring in English, the internet also serves as a platform of connection and advocacy. “We’re trying to use the internet as something to connect us rather than divide us. We use these online tools to raise money for charities, enact social change and create safe spaces for people to express themselves,” she said.
However, Williams also said those same spaces can create divisions. “It’s just polarizing us more,” she said. “We’re finding people who agree with us online ... but the people right next door have completely different opinions.”
Williams added that online interactions can affect in-person relationships. “The internet can take away essential real-life connections and the communities that exist offline,” she said.
Elisaia, a freshman elementary education major from Australia, expressed similar concerns about the pace and impact of technological change. “There are people out there who get their hands on technology too early and get exposed to things that they shouldn’t. Their safety is at risk,” she said.
Elisaia added that while her generation is learning how to navigate these challenges, “we haven’t completely found a way to navigate social media and how divisive it can be, especially as new developments like artificial intelligence (A.I.) emerge alongside it.”
What we redefine
Corsino said much of the generational divide stems from differences in awareness. Previous generations, he explained, may see mental health struggles as less prevalent because “it wasn’t really studied and wasn’t really talked about as much.”
In contrast, Corsino said with increased mental health awareness, “a lot more people are being diagnosed and are receiving appropriate professional help,” which creates the perception that these challenges are new, rather than newly recognized existing issues. Corsino said their generation is judged for being too soft or loud.
Vulnerability is strength. Vulnerability is not a weakness—it takes a lot of courage and will to be vulnerable.
Corsino added that this openness has led to a stronger sense of setting boundaries and a conscious effort to address patterns that may have been overlooked in the past.
Elisaia also said previous generations were often expected to “just suck it up, don’t cry and just keep going.” She said this mindset is how mental illnesses and generational trauma get passed down. “That’s where I think they went wrong. They didn’t fix or look into themselves and fix their own personal problems,” she said.
Elisaia added that her generation has better access to resources and understanding mental and emotional well-being. “When we talk about our feelings and work through our traumas, we start to heal as a generation,” she said.
Williams tied mental health awareness to personal experience, saying someone close to her struggled significantly at an early age, shaping how she understands community and support. She said, “My biggest goal in life is to create communities and homes where kids feel supported and they feel like there’s a way out.”
What we speak for
Williams said she desires her generation to be known for standing up for “the little guy” and uniting through minorities and rising up against oppression. “We are a generation that banded together, trying to make a difference for good. We’re doing our best to create a world that’s going to help others be more comfortable with themselves and the world around them.”
Elisaia said, “We started a lot of movements in our generation—movements to change the world,” she said. She said when they see something that needs improvement, they do something about it. She also said her generation has a keen sense of justice. “We have a lot of heart and a desire to stand up for what is right.”
Corsino said willingness to speak out is most effective when grounded in knowledge and critical thinking.
We are a generation that speaks and will not be silenced.
What we carry forward
Addressing the future generation, Elisaia said, “You can do anything. Reach your potential. We are a generation that spoke up. And because we did, so must you.”
Corsino said that vision must be rooted in empathy. “No point in life is individually harder than anyone else’s. We’re all just trying to live, we’re all just trying to learn.”
Williams also encouraged future generations to approach the world with intention and awareness. She said, “Listen to people from different backgrounds and places. Read everything you can but don’t just consume it—learn how to digest it. Stand for people and real is always better than fake.”