WOODBURY — I’m sure we’ve all heard someone over the age of 40 repeat the tired and trite phrase of “kids these days.”
But why is it when I meet kids my age, they are so successful for their age? Nonnewaug students, specifically, are doing all they can to rebuke this stereotype.
“The kids here at Nonnewaug know the term, “earning what you get,” says junior Tessa O’Neil who has spent much of her teenage years working on community farms. O’Neil is known at Nonnewaug for her hard work. She pays attention to making sure other kids her age work just as hard.
“I’ve noticed how dedicated most of the kids around me are; they have nice things that they worked for,” says O’Neil. “It’s a great feeling.”
Most kids’ minds are set on making money and working all day, always trying to figure out the next step.
“I can never focus on school because my mind is always on my plans for after school,” says senior Nick Mancini who has worked at a community farm since he began high school. Mancini’s work ethic is something he takes pride in as he’s been able to earn a paycheck, rebutting the refrain that Generation Z isn’t willing to put in hard work.
“I will say I could do better in school, but right now I’m getting more success out of working than sitting at a desk thinking about everything that has to be done,” says Mancini regarding the balance between academics and maintaining a rigorous work schedule. “I understand that it’s different for each kid.”
“Kids these days” are a different breed. We are called “Gen Z.” We are so eager to make ends meet at such a young age. We aren’t what the older generation says we are like. In short, students at Nonnewaug are some of the hardest working young people NHS faculty and staff have seen.
A long time paraeducator at Nonnewaug, Amy Deluca understands the hard work kids prioritize everyday.
“Most students go to work right after school,” says Deluca. “I realize that very many of these students are busy, but the fact is that they are willing to keep busy.”
“This generation is energetic,” said Mark Strumolo, an NHS staff member who has worked with students of multiple generations. “I do think this generation is going to be successful, but a different kind of successful.”
For NHS staff like Strumolo, Generation Z’s challenges will require them to use the full array of their talents and be prepared to take care of prior generations.
“I don’t want to leave your generation stranded to clean up the world’s mess,” said Strumolo.
What specifically makes Nonnewaug a place for students to hone their work ethic as they prepare for the world beyond campus? Here at NHS, the work environment gets competitive.
Ty Starziski, owner of Starz Landscaping, knows what it’s like to have competitors even though they are his friends.
“I’m grateful I got to get a head start in life by beginning to understand my business while being only in 8th grade,” many of Starziski’s friends started the same kind of business, one of them being in the same town. “I’m very supportive, I will always be there to help if they need it,” says Starziski “It could get messy though because I need to make money as well as my friends do.”
“You have to spend money to make money,” adds Starziski and if you ask any other hard working NHS student, I bet they will agree with Starz.
All I have to say is do you still think “Gen Z” is lazy?
This is an opinion piece written by Olivia Bernardi, Class of ’25.
