Dear Future Generations,
Being born in 1998, I have many different labels: Millennial, Generation Z, 90s kid, iGen, and probably many more that I am unaware of. Often times, my generation is the one that is known as lazy, rude, and self-invested. I am here to write this letter to the future generations to let you know that we are so much more than these labels. While we have been trying to better and prepare our planet for your arrival, the generations before us have been labeling us for the things that they have created and caused. History books may tell you the same and place us in a negative light. I just want to say, I'm scared that our world is falling apart and even though our generation is trying to put our foot down and help out, the generations before us are stomping us to a pile of dirt.
I'm sorry for the results of the 2016 election. I'm sorry that you have had to grow up in a place where a dangerous, arrogant, racist human being is in charge of the country. I'm sorry that you have had to live in a place where the President, who is supposed to be a leader, can cause a nuclear war with only 140 characters or less. For those of us who are able to vote, let's just say that Bernie Sanders won more votes among those under 30 than the two final major-party nominees combined. Over 2 million voted for Sanders while Trump and Clinton got a total of 1.6 million combined. According to the Washington Post, this number even grew. Your "leader" is not a reflection of what we wanted for our country, and I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for our current economy. Growing up, we were always placed under pressure to get good grades and do well to go on to college. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, the fact that we have taken tens of thousands of dollars in loans to pay for this schooling is. We were told that it was okay and that it was what we should do. Little did we know that we would enter a failing job market and struggle with this debt and then some.
I'm sorry that the world you may live in, may not nearly be as healthy and lively as it was at the beginning of our lives. We have stood up and been advocates to help our ecosystem. It only takes a small amount of these needy, uncaring, ignorant people to destroy what we are trying so hard to keep. Poaching, burning down forests, and God only knows what else is what are what we are trying to fight. They know EXACTLY what they are doing and what they are doing is illegal.
I'm sorry that you are growing up in a world where the adults are less accepting. Our generation has seen small but extremely violent, deadly and scary attacks whose purpose is to strike fear into our hearts and make those who are different hide. In our country today, if you are different you might as well just have a target on your back.
I'm here to tell you though that our generation recognizes and celebrates these differences. Our generation has seen more unity that no other period in history today has seen. Periods before us have seen labels, misconceptions, and wrong ideas. We need you to step up and join us to help become a symbol of change. A change for the world. We have been social advocates who are trying to right all of the wrongs of the past generations.
Our generation is not lazy. We are multi-sport athletes, involved in clubs, and have part-time jobs. We like to stay busy and involved. We are socially just, not just social. The internet provides us the platform to bring change in ways the generations before us could never understand. The internet is the television of the boomer era. We are able to explore, learn, and communicate ideas, thoughts, and opinions in ways for the world to see.
While we have failed to see a place without 9/11 and the war on terror, active shooters, lock downs, and a world full of hatred, we are the generation that has stood up for the rights of all. We share our opinions and want to better the world. We turn our hobbies into careers and our passions into donations for those in need. So please don't believe the labels that the past generations have placed on us. There is so much more than the lies they have told.
We are generation 'we,' not generation 'me.'
Sincerely,
A Scared Generation Z
