December 26, 2024. Gen-Z.

You know what's fascinating about being part of Gen-Z? We're the first generation that doesn't remember a world without the internet. We were born into a reality where information flows freely, where borders are more like suggestions, and where change happens at the speed of a tweet.

There's this narrative about Gen-Z that gets tossed around – that we're entitled, distracted, always glued to our phones. But I see something different. I see a generation that's incredibly adaptable, naturally innovative, and surprisingly pragmatic.

Here's the thing: we grew up watching traditional systems struggle to keep up with reality. Education systems designed for the industrial age trying to prepare us for jobs that don't exist yet. Financial systems that feel like they're running on Windows 95 in age of artificial intelligence and advance computing. Social structures that assume we'll follow the same life path as our parents – school, job, house, retirement.

But we're not buying it. Not because we're rebellious (okay, maybe a little), 

but because we can see the gaps between what is and what could be.

Think about it: we're the generation that learned to code from YouTube, built businesses from our bedrooms, and created communities across continents. We don't just accept change – we expect it. We don't just adapt to new technologies – we imagine how they could be better.

I remember sitting in a class, learning theories that have been taught the same way for decades, while using an AI app on my phone to solve complex problems in seconds. The contrast was stark. It wasn't that the traditional method was wrong – it just felt incomplete. Like we were learning to ride horses while spacecraft were flying overhead.

Some call this impatience. I call it recognizing potential.

That's why I believe Gen-Z is a bridge generation. We stand between the world as it was and the world as it could be. We understand both the value of traditional knowledge and the necessity of radical innovation. We respect the past but refuse to be bound by it.

When I talk about reshaping systems through Abdi & Brothers Company, it's not because I think everything needs to be torn down and rebuilt. It's because I believe we can take the best of what exists and transform it into something that serves everyone better. We can make any systems more accessible, work more meaningful, and progress more sustainable.

Yes, we spend a lot of time on our phones. But through those screens, we're learning, connecting, creating, and reimagining. We're watching tutorials on everything from quantum physics to urban farming. We're building global movements with hashtags and heart emojis. We're turning memes into millions and turning social media into social change.

But here's what really sets us apart: we understand that the future isn't something that happens to us – it's something we create. Every day, I see my peers starting companies, launching nonprofits, creating art, and building communities. We're not waiting for permission or perfect conditions. We're just getting started.

And yes, we make mistakes. We sometimes move too fast, trust too easily, or dream too big. But isn't that better than not moving at all? Isn't it better to aim high and miss than to never aim at all?

To the generations before us: 

we hear your concerns. We understand your skepticism. But please understand that our seemingly radical approaches come from a place of hope, not disrespect. We're not trying to erase the past – we're trying to build a future that honors it while embracing what's possible.

To my fellow Gen-Z's: 

keep questioning, keep creating, keep pushing boundaries. Your "unrealistic" ideas might just be exactly what the world needs. Your ability to see problems as opportunities, to turn constraints into creativity, to build communities around causes – these aren't weaknesses. They're superpowers.

The world is changing faster than ever, and that's exactly why we need to be who we are. Our comfort with change, our digital fluency, our global perspective – these aren't just traits, they're tools. And we're going to need every tool we can get to tackle the challenges ahead. We might be young, we might be idealistic, but we're also determined. And in a world that needs new solutions, maybe that's exactly what we need to be.

After all, the future belongs to those who dare to reimagine it. And reimagining? That's what we do best.