First, I want introduce myself: my name is Serena Uy and I am a proud member of Generation Z. I typically would not go around divulging this bit of information; in fact, I only recently found out that I am part of this group. You may now be wondering: what exactly is Generation Z? After reading a number of articles, I can safely say that while there is not one accurate definition, Generation Z most often refers to people born beginning in the mid to late 1990s (some say starting 1995 and beyond). As such, it is safe to say that the majority of students at NYU Shanghai are part of Generation Z.While each member of Generation Z is unique, most of us are united by common interests or activities. For instance, Generation Z is nicknamed the “iGeneration” because most, if not all of us, were exposed to technology at an early age. It is common to find teenagers (a.k.a. members of Generation Z) glued to their phones, texting. In fact, the number of teens that use text messaging to communicate with others has increased over the past 18 months by 16 percent.Personally, I too am a “text messaging addict” and am constantly on my WeChat, Viber, or iMessage sending messages to my friends and family. I find that text or instant messaging is more convenient than sending an e-mail, as people usually do not check their e-mail as often as they check their phones (this is probably why professors sometimes give out their WeChat IDs). The only criticism (yes, only) I have to say about text or instant messaging is that it can be very tempting to remain glued to one’s phone so much so that you cannot live without it! During the first week of orientation I was really hooked on WeChat and remembered constantly checking it (even my friends noticed how frequently I was using WeChat). When I was not able to access my WeChat account on the last day of orientation (I had forgotten my password), I felt as though I had beendisconnected from everything. As grossly exaggerated as that sounds, I feel that I am accurately depicting my feelings at the time; for one, I was waiting in anticipation to see whether or not my orientation group made it to the SHMASH finals (we did) and also trying to determine my friends’ whereabouts. Being disconnected from WeChat, however, made me realize how dependent I am on instant messaging and how important it is to live in the moment rather than endlessly checking the phone screen (it really is difficult to multitask after all). Another interesting fact about Generation Z is that most of us are aware that our future is not going to be an easy, smooth-sailing one. Whenever I talk to my friends, somehow the words “end of the world,” “global warming,” or “financial stability” recur especially when we are discussing potential majors or our future plans. A lot of us (and this is true for many) fear that we might not get a job right after college and may take years and years to repay student loans. But just because we have a lot of fears does not mean we stand passively by, paralyzed. Aside from the name iGeneration, Generation Z is also known as the “TransGeneration.” Unlike previous generations, members of Generation Z have the unique opportunity to change the world through the palm of their hands--- one click on social media can mean intense media coverage the next day (in other words, be careful what you post because you never know what may happen to it). Because of this, TransGens can easily connect with fellow TransGens and become more global citizens as a result of interactions both online and offline. While members of Generation Z may be technologically savvy (most likely after reading this you’ll be on social media checking the latest feed), they are also hardworking, creative, and most of all determined to solve pressing global issues. We are not ones to stay idle and not put our education to good use, instead we find ways to let our voices be heard, be it through crowd funding, joining an organization, or typing away. And as such, Generation Z has an added zing that previous generations, in my opinion, do not have! This article was written by Serena Uy. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Arshaun Darabnia