Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Gen Z—What’s a Paper Route? By Dr. James Th rasher M ike Rowe, the Dirty Jobs star and host of How America Works, has recently unloaded on Gen Z. Rowe said that the importance of hard work is on the way out, and we have seen the last days of a work ethic being a virtue. He said that work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratifi cation, and a decent attitude were expected in the workplace, and those days are gone. Gen Zers never had a paper route. Delivering the Buffalo Evening News dry, on time, and left exactly in the right place for my customers, who regularly expressed exceptionally high expectations for me, forged my work ethic. The weekly charge was 55 cents, and I was taught to have change for a dollar in my hand when approaching every house. My mom would say, “It is wrong to force people to give you a tip because you don’t have change for their dollar bill. Present the 45 cents, and if they say keep the change, sincerely thank them.” I was ridiculed each week for getting change by the store owner where I picked up my papers. The owner said, “Take their money,” to which I responded, “No sir, it’s not the right thing to do.” When reconciling each account on collection days, I had to show my mom that the collected amount was correct down to the last penny. All of this helped to defi ne my character, integrity, and work ethic. My Baby Boomer generation represents the children of the Greatest Generation. Both my parents lived through the Great Depression. As Boomers, we were expected to work hard at an early age, believed in being loyal to one’s employer by giving more than a full day’s work, and believed in an employment philosophy of paying your dues. Growing up in my neighborhood meant doing daily chores, taking a paper route, mowing lawns, doing odd jobs, and having a job on Saturdays. This all began for us at the age of 14. On top of that, we took every opportunity to play outside, no matter the weather, learning the hard lessons of life. We loved real competition through Little League football and baseball, “Punt, Pass, and Kick” competitions, Junior Olympic Wrestling, and basketball open gyms. This expected work ethic continued into our high school and college years, when we were now juggling many more responsibilities and jobs in the midst of academic and sports aspirations. Times have changed. It has become apparent that Gen Zers do not have this same work ethic. Gen Z has prompted a warning that societal norms are changing, and the importance of hard work is on its way out. A number of factors have brought about this change. A contributing factor is the upbringing of Gen Zers. This generation has had everything scheduled for them and given to them. Their helicopter parents have wanted to know who, what, where, why, and how about every aspect of their child’s life. Gen Zers have created their own protective home cocoons, and social media has become their reality. They have experienced sports without a score, COVID isolation, school shootings, participation trophies, mental health struggles, no responsibilities at home, an obsession with computer games, and CRT, DEI, and Woke philosophies. These infl uential factors have truly aff ected them and their work ethic. Gen Z is currently being hammered for its abysmal work ethic. There are major concerns about the newest entrants to the workforce. This assessment is being validated by educators, recruiters, employers, and recent survey data. Educators have described this generation as the entitled generation, unwilling to put in the time and eff ort to achieve its full potential. Intelligent.com found that over 50% of employers and recruiters think that Gen Zers have inappropriate work attitudes and present unprofessional behavior in the recruiting process. A Resumebuilder.com survey reveals that 74% of business leaders report that Gen Z is more diffi cult to work with than any other generation. Survey data of these very transparent Gen Zers paints a troubling picture. They describe their expectations as: high pay with fewer hours, more paid time off , a newly defi ned worklife balance, immediate earnings of $75,000 to $100,00 right out of college, fl exible hours, working remotely, and immediate job recognition and rewards. In the realm of work, they describe themselves as having a lack of initiative, short attention spans, limited interpersonal skills, no moorings, being depressed and burnt out (more than half of Gen Zers either have been diagnosed with or have been treated for a mental health issue), and having lost a sense of motivation and determination. The well-established and longstanding virtue of hard work may be a fl eeting memory of previous generations. The initial societal effect of a disappearing work ethic is being felt, and the long-term impact could be devastating. Is there a silver lining in this devastating description of Gen Z? Well, not all Gen Zers meet this profi le, which presents an incredible window of opportunity to those who are hard-working, responsible, motivated, and mature. These individuals will noticeably stand out amongst their peers, will be highly sought after by employers, and will have limitless possibilities in the marketplace. —Dr. Jim Thrasher is the Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Student Recruitment and the coordinator of the Institute for Faith & Freedom's working group on calling. Wreaths Across America Honors “Flying Tiger Line Flight 739” with a Special Remembrance Ceremony On Saturday, March 16, 2024, Wreaths Across America remembers the 62nd anniversary of the Disappearance of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 COLUMBIA FALLS, ME — February 19, 2024 – On Saturday, March 16, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) will pay tribute to the American heroes who selfl essly sacrifi ced their lives aboard Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 (FTLF 739). Join us for a special event at noon ET at the FTLF 739 Monument on the Balsam Valley tip lands in Downeast Maine. The event will be broadcast live on WAA’s offi - cial Facebook page and Wreaths Across America Radio. Sixty-two years ago, on March 16, 1962, FTLF 739 and its crew departed on a secret mission to Vietnam sanctioned by President Kennedy. This reconnaissance mission went missing, ~ Home of the Week ~ Come visit this conveniently located, well-maintained two-family home situated on a corner lot. This property showcases a roof installed in 2015 and a new heating system. The first-floor unit has 2 bedrooms, and 1 bathroom, with an in-unit laundry facility and access to a patio. The second-floor unit oers 3 bedrooms, and 1 bathroom, featuring a cathedral-ceiling living room, a recently remodeled kitchen, and hardwood floors throughout. The property is near a park and public transportation. Tenants will remain with the property. 46 SERINO WAY, SAUGUS Carpenito Real Estate is now Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate OFFERED AT $725,000 (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus Commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Ailiates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Ailiates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway ailiate. Equal Housing Opportunity. with no trace of the plane or its passengers ever found. Onboard were 93 United States Army soldiers, 11 civilian crewmembers, and four Vietnamese citizens. Very little is known about what happened to FTLF 739, its crew, and its passengers. Due to the circumstances surrounding this mission, the names of those lost have never been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Presently, a private citizen erected the only monument that bears the names of these American heroes, Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester. The monument is located on his tip land in Maine, where balsam is harvested to make veterans’ wreaths that are placed each December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day – this year on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. The inscription on the FTLF 739 monument in Maine reads: “Missing in action; Presumed dead. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation mysteries out of the Vietnam War era.” This solemn ceremony will share poignant messages and stories about FTLF 739 and pay homage to the crew’s memory. Join us as we come together to remember and honor these selfl ess individuals and the enduring spirit of courage they exemplifi ed. To watch live on Facebook or share the ceremony on March 16, at noon ET, use this link: National Wreaths Across America Day will be held this year on Saturday, December 14, 2024. This is a free event open to all, and the organization encourages community members to participate by volunteering locally or sponsoring a wreath for an American hero. For $17, you can help sponsor the year-long efforts of Wreaths Across America. For more information, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
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