Nasieku refutes notions that Gen Z have a simple path to success

Content creator and TikTok dancer Alberta Nasieku has reflected on the generational gap between millennials and Gen Z, noting that the younger generation has found ways to pursue success much earlier compared to those who came before them.

Speaking during an interview with Shiksha Arora on Saturday, August 16, 2025, she pointed out that while millennials often remind Gen Z that they do not understand the struggles of the past, the real difference is not age but upbringing and environment.

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She explained that each generation was shaped by the systems they grew up in, with millennials largely tied to traditional pathways of education and long waiting periods before achieving financial stability.

“I have experienced that with some of my friends, to be honest. I feel it is always like that because of how they were raised. I would not say it is about their entire generation because we do not have a huge age gap, but it is more about the upbringing and the values they were given, which shaped those views,” she said.

Nasieku contrasted this with Gen Z’s approach, highlighting that her generation has embraced new opportunities that emerged with technology, social media, and creative industries.

Unlike older generations who relied strictly on schooling and formal employment, Gen Z, she said, has adapted quickly to avenues that allow them to generate income at a much younger age.

“For us, we were taught to follow the traditional route of studying for many years before achieving success, but Gen Z is proving that you can achieve much earlier if you seize the opportunities available,” she added.

Drawing from her own experience, she recounted the moment she first earned money through TikTok branding deals around three years ago.

The milestone became even more significant when she decided to share her first paycheck with her mother, a gesture she described as an important symbol of gratitude and responsibility.

That moment, she said, reinforced the idea that success for her generation comes not from waiting decades for career growth, but from seizing opportunities as they arise.

“When I got my first paycheck, it was not too long ago. I remember it was when my TikTok started paying me through branding, about three years ago. I sent part of that money to my mother and told her to enjoy it. That was an important moment for me, because it showed me that success does not have to wait for many years,” she said.

She emphasised that the notion of Gen Z having it easy is misleading.

Instead, she argued, the younger generation has simply leveraged emerging platforms to create opportunities that were not available to older groups.

According to her, this shift has cultivated a mindset of independence and innovation, reshaping how success is defined and pursued.

“I do not think Gen Z has it easy. I feel that there are simply more opportunities that came up, and Gen Z adapted to them. We were all used to the old system of going to school, and that path is still there, but now there are other opportunities where people can make money while still young,” she said.