Jul 8, 2025 4:24:35 PM

This Generation Isn’t Lost

They’re Just Waiting to Be Seen

This Generation Wants to Be Seen | Youth Speaker for Schools

by Michale Taylor – Gen Z Youth Speaker & Advocate for Student Voice

💬 Introduction:

It’s easy to say “This generation is lost.”

But what if they’re not? What if they’re just unseen?

Behind every student labeled lazy, entitled, or disrespectful is a young person craving connection. And when students don’t feel seen, they disconnect—emotionally, mentally, academically.

👁️‍🗨️ Gen Z Craves Authenticity, Not Authority

This generation can spot inauthenticity in seconds. They don’t want perfection from adults; they want presence. Real. Honest. Human.

They’re asking:

Can you see past my behavior?
Do I matter beyond my grades?
Will you really listen if I speak?

And how we answer that matters.

📈 Students Want to Be Heard

➡️ Statistic: 74% of high school students say they don’t feel like their voices are valued in school decisions. — YouthTruth Student Survey

They don’t need us to talk more, they need us to listen better.

🎤 How I Help Students Feel Seen

In every school assembly, I create moments where students:

Drop their guard and open their hearts
Feel safe enough to share their truth
See themselves in someone else’s story
Leave feeling affirmed, not just instructed

Through storytelling, vulnerability, and reflection, I show students they’re not invisible—and never alone.

🧠 This Supports School Culture, Climate & Connection

My message aligns with:

PBIS goals for respect, trust, and belonging
Tier 1 SEL supports that increase school connectedness
Equity practices that elevate student's voice
Youth mental health initiatives and restorative culture work

📥 Want a Speaker Who Helps Students Feel Understood?

If your students are silent, they’re not disengaged—they’re guarding themselves. Let’s give them a reason to open up.

🔗 Book a Student-Centered School Assembly
🔗 Download the Mask Off Activity Kit
🔗 Explore the R.I.S.E. Method for Connection and Growth

✍🏽 Reflection Prompt for Students:

📝 “What’s something you’ve wanted to say, but felt like no one would understand?”

📣 Final Thoughts

This generation isn’t broken.
They’re brilliant. Bold. Burdened. And worth every effort.

When we make space for them to be seen, we give them permission to shine.

And that’s how change starts—student by student. Voice by voice.

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