Gen Z Teen Spills the tea ☕️: Unveiling Her Top 5 Obsessions!
MY FIVE: A series where we ask Omahans to share their five favorite things
By Josefina Loza
Welcome to the insightful world of Jesslynn Gales, a fresh-faced Gen Z teenager who is ready to break the mold. As a freshman at Burke High School, she navigates the challenges of adolescence while juggling her love for work and babysitting in her precious free time. However, there's something about Jesslynn that sets her apart from her peers - she believes in debunking the myth that everything revolves around social media. In a world where likes, follows, and filters dominate conversations, Jesslynn wants to shed light on a different perspective.
“As a Gen Z teenager, I want people to understand that not everything is based on social media and that the communities and schools nowadays are different than back then,” Jesslynn said. “So they need to understand that we are not going to get grades that society expects us to because the community and people are different, the curriculum is different, and mostly how people treat each other is different.”
In her own words, she wants people to understand that teens today are different from those of the past. She acknowledges the undeniable truth that the expectations and pressures placed on Gen Z students are not the same as before. The ever-evolving landscape of education and the shifting dynamics within society have brought forth a new era where traditional measures of success may not apply anymore.
Jesslynn urges us to consider that the grades and accomplishments we perceive as societal expectations may not reflect the reality of this generation. The community she thrives in, the curriculum she encounters, and the way people treat one another have all shaped her worldview, emphasizing the need for a fresh perspective on achievement.
It's time to embrace a new narrative, one that acknowledges the evolving dynamics of our communities and schools, and the incredible potential that lies within each and every one of us from Boomers to Generation Alpha and everything in between.
Now for Jesslynn’s five most favorite things…
My Phone
Of course, an iPhone. Duh!
“My first thing I can’t live without is my phone,” Jesslynn said. “I love my phone because it’s a form of communication that is important to me. I can communicate with my friends and family in a short time.”
2. My Charger
It’s Important To Stay Connected!
“I couldn’t live without my charger because it charges my phone and many of my other electronics,” she said.
3. My sister, Addison.
“I couldn’t live without my sister because she is the best person I’ve ever met,” Jesslyn said. “She is not only my sister, she is my best friend. She has helped me through so much and I don’t know what I would do without her.”
4. Hygiene products
Smelling yummy!
“I couldn’t live without hygiene products because I love smelling good,” Jesslyn said. “And I don’t know how I would even leave the house without smelling good.”
5. Food (watermelon, specifically.)
I couldn’t live without food because it’s a necessity in our daily life and fuel for our bodies. However, I specifically love watermelon because it is so good.