Coming of Age
Last year, the Times Free Press brought in Chuck Underwood, creator and host of “America’s Generations” on PBS, for a fascinating discussion on social generations. As he rattled off characteristics like self-reliant, distrustful and disengaged, my brain went “check,” “check” and “check.”
I belong to the tail end of Gen X, which came of age during a time marked by the rise in household technology, the dismantling of the family and the unveiling of corporate greed.
America’s newest generation, Gen Z – which just graduated its first class from high school, contrary to what you may have heard, Underwood says – is coming of age in a time marked by worldwide uncertainty. In our first story below, you’ll meet some of the first in that class, who share how this is shaping their outlook, something that will play out in countless ways over the next 20 years.
– Jennifer Bardoner, editor