I know it might feel a bit awkward to kick off this piece, but here we go. I’m not sure how many of us still pick up newspapers as our parents did, but I’m optimistic that this read will resonate with all my peers, millennials and baby boomers. So, without a fuss, let me crank out this piece.

“Hello, Gen Z,” People Daily Managing Editor Emeka-Mayaka Gekara, greeted me. He calls me Gen Z in the newsroom because I’m the youngest staff member. He continued, “I would like to see you write about issues affecting your generation every Thursday in the paper. We want to hear from you guys.”

That’s how I found myself agreeing to this, always ready to take on a challenge. And what better way to express my (and our) thoughts as Gen Z than through writing? What better way to give credit where it’s due and condemn societal ills than by using what I love most — writing?

So, ladies and gentlemen, it’s fitting that I acknowledge how our generation is swiftly occupying spaces everywhere, including workplaces. In this era of digitisation and continuous innovation, we are at the forefront. We are facilitating and leading various projects, and, given an enabling environment, we are destined for greatness. Indeed, we are the custodians of tomorrow.

I’m sure many of you have noticed: we are more social, we love fieldwork, we have a unique sense of fashion, our hangout spots differ, our energy is distinct, plus we are a generation that is more radical and experimental. Because of these traits and more, we tend to be open-minded, eager to learn as well as ready to upskill.

Employers and clients, take note: Success is within reach for those who have more Gen Zs in their workplaces We bring fresh approaches and diverse perspectives.

However, it’s wild how Gen Z somehow got branded lazy – I mean, we can multitask with one eye closed! If older generations see us as a threat, well, maybe it’s time we talk teamwork. They say unity is strength, right? So why the generational standoffs? And funny enough, while they think we are “too modern”, we sometimes wonder if they’ll ever make peace with the internet. In the end, how do we get anywhere if we are both holding stereotypes like they are some aesthetics?

Let us face it, and give flowers where due: the older generation (like the name implies) has been around the block … probably a few hundred times. They have witnessed history, and made some of it, plus they probably still remember life without the internet. Meanwhile, we’ve got the social media-savvy edge, we are navigating life as a whole with fresh eyes and more tech.

Stepping into these workplaces has stirred up quite a range of reactions from the veterans. Some are enthralled by our ideas; others seem worried we are here to literally stage a hostile takeover. Some think our energy is contagious, while others would rather not catch it at all. There is even a split between ‘unreliable’ and ‘impressive’. The mixed signals are coming in loud and clear — maybe a good chat would help bridge the generation gap a little so that we co-exist harmoniously.

Anyway, at the end of the day, my fellow young guns, let us not skip the opportunity to learn a thing or two from the veterans. After all, their wisdom has a longer battery life. That said, enjoy the weekend!

– The writer is a Sub-Editor with People Daily-