Seventeen-Year-Old Gen-Zer from the 90s – Catie Doran
When I asked to interview junior Catie Doran, a “star celebrity” in Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID) who never misses any campus-wide opportunities to shine on-stage, I told her that she would be discussing her thoughts on the Gen-Z generation. She paused me, proceeding to shyly question what “Gen-Z” is.
From the outside looking in, that about sums up Catie as an “old soul” seventeen-year-old. Introspective and wise, she is constantly considered by those surrounding her to be beyond her years or even stuck in the wrong generation. This interview, however, poses a rare opportunity to know Catie from the inside looking out – to step into her bubble by examining what life as an “old soul” stuck in a Gen-Zer’s body is really like.
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You have often been described as an “old soul” by others. How much do you agree or disagree? Is it something you choose to do deliberately or is it an inherent part of yourself?
I really want to answer this question to help me understand myself better.
I am definitely an “old soul” because I listened to and watched a lot of old stuff for years. There’s a psychological term for this – “confirmation bias?” I knew that new stuff was there, but I ignored it. I was blind on purpose. It was definitely cool watching old Hollywood films or Charlie Chaplin, or listening to music from my favorite era, the 90s. I love Mariah Carey, Pink Floyd, Backstreet Boys…
I pretended that I was living in that era. No WeChat. No games. Deep conversations. It was definitely not something I should have done long-term.
I needed that phase, but when I look back on it, I realized I missed out on new songs and movies. I was convincing myself that new stuff was not good, and that old stuff was classic, real, the “OG.” But that’s a biased way of looking at everything.
The old movies are still great, and I’d recommend them to anyone because they themselves are not horrible; my narrow-minded perception was. It made me feel special to fantasize that I was in the 90s, but I have to open up to new things as well to engage with those around me. Living right now is to engage with what’s happening right now.
The “old soul” is true in a way, but it’s not something I want to hold onto all the time. I want to be an “old soul” that is a part of the “new soul.” I’m very glad I developed an “old soul” early on because otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a contrast – I wouldn’t have realized it was time to learn about the “new soul.” Everything happens for a reason.
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Do any of your characteristics as an “old soul” conversely help you when bonding with other Gen-Zers?
Not fitting in as an “old soul” made me a very compassionate person because I easily understand what being left out and lonely feels like. So, when I meet someone who has troubles, I immediately, instinctively try to help them fix their problems. Being tagged as an “old soul” made me more empathetic, and that’s probably why people like talking to me because they know that I may have something insightful to offer.
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What is some advice you have for other Gen-Zers?
I have advice just like how they might have advice for me.
Middle school me would describe Gen-Zers as childish and superficial, and I would give them a bunch of advice. Right now, though, I have no advice to give. I could tell those around me to stop texting and talk more, but not all Gen-Zers are like that, and what does it even mean to not text and just talk? We text when we cannot talk.
I make the same mistakes I think other people make. At the same time, being the “old soul,” doing what I do, may be perceived as weird by other people.
We’re equally weird.
Jessica T