Dear Gen-Z,

Dear Gen Z,

Look in the mirror. What do you see? Are you kind? 

I’m not asking about the version of you that shows up at parties or in comment sections or whatever your algorithm thinks you want to be. I’m asking about you, the person you’re trying to discover. I know today our mirrors are distorted by society, but here’s the plot twist: we consider ourselves the embodiment of the "benevolent generation.” We repost infographics, we talk about mental health, we say “choose kind” in our Instagram bios. Yet, fifty percent of teens have experienced bullying in some fashion. Half. That means almost every one of us has been hurt by someone. Not only does bullying cause destruction, it increases the chance of suicide by 22-90%. Whether in a group chat or in the hallways, unkindness has become a dangerous norm.

And honestly? I’m writing to myself too. I get why. 

The world feels overwhelming. We’re caught up in our country being at war, job interviews, our AP World exam, and everything in between. And in all the commotion, our generation casually defaults to what’s convenient. Hatred. Constant stress and polarization have trained us to react faster and empathize reluctantly. A culture where cruelty becomes a reflex instead of compassion. That’s the problem. Unkindness isn’t in the spotlight; it’s silent. Kindness, on the other hand, is inconvenient for us: taking seconds to hold the door for someone, saying good morning, or simply smiling through your struggles. One smile, that’s all it takes. Yet somehow, we make that impossible.

But here’s the good news: we’re capable of kindness. We’ve organized protests, raised money, transformed technology, demanded change. Imagine what we could do if we brought a fraction of that energy to the way we treat the people standing right in front of us. 

So here’s my plea, to all of us who share this generation:

Be intentional. Before you like, speak, or react, pause. Ask yourself how your seven-year old self would feel if someone spoke to them that way, looked at them that way, or judged them that way. 

Be brave. Don’t choose what’s easy, choose what’s hard. For such a “smart” generation, our power is truly in being kind.It’s not enough to be smart. It’s far more powerful to be the person who is known to be kind than the person who is known to be smart.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Kindness can’t grow outward if we’re cruel to the person we wake up to every morning. 

Look in the mirror, really look. And ask yourself, how are you showing up today? 

Sincerely,

Fellow Gen Z-er