Generation Z is made up of people born from 1996 to present day. This group of people have grown up in a time after 9/11 terrorist attacks, during a dramatic recession and a period of extreme technological growth.

Although of the newest generation is just beginning to take their first steps as babies, many of them are taking their first giant leap into college and the work force, and they are eager to do so.

“I want to become a delivery nurse and get into the college of my choice,” junior Amanda Poyer said.

Like Poyer, many members of Generation Z have big plans for their futures. According to a report done by the National High School Center, 93 percent of middle school students reported that their goal is to someday attend college.

“I’ve never seen so much focus on what they want to do after high school,”  Student Services Secretary Laura McPhee said about the high school students currently attending Kaneland High School.

This new generation is taking the future into their own hands. According to a study done by Millennial Branding and Internships.com, 72 percent of high school students reported they would like to start their own business someday.

“While Gen Y struggles to pay back one trillion dollars in student loans, and is living with their parents when they graduate, Gen Z is already focused on creating their own companies and living life on their terms,” Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding wrote in his article “Why Gen Z’ May Be More Entrepreneurial Than ‘Gen Y.”

In that same study, 55 percent of high school students said they felt pressured by their parents to gain professional experience during their high school years, and 54 percent of high school parents said they helped their children gain that experience.

“I wanted to work and my parents were supportive about it,” senior Sterling Matias said.

Matias started his first job at the age of 14 mowing lawns for neighbors, putting in five hours a week and getting paid $100.

Generation Z is also filled with individuals who not only seek to meet the needs of themselves, but to seek the needs of others as well.

According to a study done by the Corporation for National and Community service, 55 percent of youth between the ages of 12 and 18 volunteer on a regular basis, nearly double the amount of adults who volunteer.

“There’s a kindness in this generation that I’ve never seen before,” McPhee said.

Generation Z is the most diverse generation yet. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2009 nearly 44 percent of children under the age of 18 were minorities.

“This generation accepts diversity better than any generation we’ve had,” P.E. teacher Tom Dillivan said.

Traditional values have also changed in the years since Generation Z has been born.

“They [Generation Z]  dress more provocative, and no one thinks it’s a big deal anymore. I don’t think a lot of things are that big of a deal because I grew up in this generation,” Poyer said.

The first computers were invented in the early 1900’s, but it wasn’t until the 1990’s that wireless internet also known was Wi-Fi was invented. This made Generation Z the first generation to be born into the world of wireless internet.

Sophomore Kylie Modaff, like many other teens, has several social media sites including instagram, facebook and tumblr.

“Everything takes place over the internet now,” Modaff said.

Everything including school work. In a survey done by Pew Research 52% of students used a social networking site to research for an assignment in school, and 77 percent of teachers surveyed said they feel the impact of online research is “mostly positive”.

“I think the advances in technology have tremendous potential for learning, however technology is being misused and abused,” Dillivan said.

Generation Z has many years ahead of them and many changes to make in the world.

“We don’t know what we are doing yet, we have a lot to learn,” sophomore Patrick Murphy said.