The last few minutes of class are always the most torturous. You sit there, willing time to move faster and waiting for the bell to ring. Like clockwork, everyone checks the time every two minutes, either with a sneaky glance at laptops or the ScreenBeam at the front of the room. However, almost no one looks at the perfectly functional analog clock right above the door, almost as if we’re collectively avoiding it. As a member of Gen Z, I’m pretty familiar with the skills that we have — and the “ancient” ones we’ve lost. Most notably: reading analog clocks.
Clock or Conundrum?
Yes, those circular things with tiny hands. Not the clock on your phone — the real, physical kind. The kind you could take off the wall, if you were willing to risk the grades for doing so. While they may seem decorative or like some vintage relic from your attic, older generations are able to effortlessly declare the time with a single glance (a quarter past three!). For Gen Z, it’s a different story. Sometimes we need a brief internal TED Talk, other times some minor geometry, and occasionally, a calculator to reach the same conclusion.
The Art of Getting Lost
A few hundred years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, and your parents fought a tiger on the way to school, people navigated
with maps, landmarks, and vague instructions like “turn left at the big tree.” Today, if a GPS fails or a phone loses signal, we Gen Z-ers enter what can only be described as panic.
On the roads, we drive aimlessly, hoping for familiar signage; the rare Gen Z-er in the wild, however, attempts to rely on memory, but let’s face it. Most of us don’t even know which way is north.
Phone Calls: Communication’s Final Boss
Texting? Easy. Voice notes? A breeze. But making an actual phone call? For many Gen Z-ers, that’s where things get complicated. It’s oddly intimidating to have a live conversation when you can’t see the person face-to-face. After all, without facial expressions, how are you supposed to blindly guess at what they’re really thinking? After 15 minutes of mental preparation, script writing, and emotional support, only the bravest Gen Z-ers are ready to press “call.” My advice? Stick to texting — it’s much safer with its thinking, editing, and deleting capabilities.
Cursive — a Lost Art or a Secret Code?
While once a staple of elementary school education, cursive writing has now become equivalent to a cryptic puzzle. Though supposedly elegant and beautiful, it often looks like you’re writing with your non-dominant hand, or worse, like you’ve been cursed with a doctor’s handwriting. Reading it usually requires some squinting, guessing, and a lot of luck.
It gives me about as much of a headache as trying to read my ICPAs do, but I never learned cursive; my letters just naturally blend together. Fair warning: if this trend continues, birthday cards from grandparents may soon require subtitles.
Experimenting in the Kitchen: a Hazard
With the rise of short-form content, Gen Z has mastered the art of watching 30-second recipe videos filled with quick cuts and energetic music. However, translating the skills I see all over my FYP can be… risky. Even with following each step exactly as shown in the video, results rarely look the same. The food often ends up suspiciously pink or burnt beyond recognition — problems that not even a good sauce or pretty plating can fix — but it’s not entirely our fault. We just did what the video showed us, and they don’t always include things like turning the oven on.
Of course, it’s worth noting that Gen Z has developed an entirely new set of skills: advanced video editing, increased emotional intelligence, and the ability to type entire essays on a phone keyboard. While we may struggle with analog clocks, we can tell you the exact time in five different time zones and set seven morning alarms in just a few seconds (with a little help from our phones, of course).
Still, to the adults: if you ever find yourself in a room with a ticking clock and a confused teenager, consider offering some assistance. Or, at least let us know if it’s only decorative.
Photos courtesy of PickPic
