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A poor man has no friends. This is one of the many hard-hitting proverbs from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It is a sobering truth that, whether you like it or not, you have no choice but to swallow that bitter pill. There is no way to spit it out. Unless, perhaps, you don’t need it. But first, swallow that truth like a pill. Let it sink in.

As one of the youngest and most proactive generations in the hierarchy, we are more than allergic to poverty. The way we are ‘chasing the bag’ with the aim of breaking free from generational poverty even scares the government of the day. We are all striving to break the undesirable chains that bind us to financial struggles. We want to rise, live the lives we have always dreamed of, and own everything we have ever prayed and wished for.

Everyone knows poverty is akin to a plague. Its stench is suffocating, like an untreated wound. Being poor feels like a curse. It is not okay. It has never been okay. No. It does not sit well with anyone. Being poor is like being possessed by the strongest demon (if such a thing exists). In short, poverty is like a life sentence — both mentally and physically. How, then, can we allow this to befall us?

Why should poverty be our portion when society has already stamped a “get rich or go broke” deadline on our foreheads? Why should we wallow in poverty when our parents practically auctioned their livestock, sold the family farm and even borrowed from that nosy aunt just to send us to the best schools?

With these questions buzzing in our heads, the pressure starts mounting. Before we know it, we are looking for shortcuts to fortune. And that is actually when Gen Z start diving into anything promising a quick payday — crypto scams, endless betting slips, besides some schemes that make our parents question if we really graduated. All because we want to blink and become millionaires.

For us, Gen Z, it is all about the get-rich-quick lifestyle. Most of the Gen Z have no time for sweat and tears. In our heads, the timeline was from the word go simple: graduate by 23, land a six-figure job by 25, buy a car, build a mansion and have a picture-perfect family by 30. Except life does not always read from our script. When things go sideways, as they sometimes do, rejection hits us really bad. It is usually unbearable and can’t be handled.

I make an effort to read different books as much as possible. My current read is 50 Memos to Men by Silas Nyanchwani. In one of the memos, the author mentions that there are different career trajectories. The first category includes those who flourish in their mid-20s to early 30s. The second comprises individuals whose careers start slowly but pick up later in life. The third group is made up of late bloomers.

As I wrap up, let’s take life one day at a time. Let’s appreciate every step of the way and embrace the wins and lessons that come with it. Because at the end of the day, the hustle will always be worth it.

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