Millennial sharing her 2007 'high school experience' leaves Gen Z wishing for that life
'If anyone says this wasn't the best time, they are delusional...'
The early 2000s were a perfect balance between technology, connectivity, and genuine interactions. People were already on social media platforms, but that didn't disrupt their real lives. In simple words, it was less overwhelming and far less integrated into our daily lives. Rachel Morris Vigil (@rach.carey), a graduate from the class of '07, posted a video montage of her high school days on November 11. Her post went viral and left Gen Zs of the so-called modern world wishing for a slower and peaceful life.
The pictures taken with either old-school cameras or not-so-advanced cell phones stand as a testimony to the innocent lives that college students experienced in the absence of intense and overbearing social media. Kids from the early 2000s had a distinctive fashion sense. It was undoubtedly the era ruled by capris, low-rise jeans paired with crop tops, and velvet tracksuits. It was a time when people embraced their natural beauty and didn't live under the constant pressure of putting their lives on social media. Instead of selfies, people posed with their friends during college events.
Morris Vigil used a Hilary Duff song, making the video montage even more nostalgic. "I wanted to capture the feeling of being a teenage girl in the early 2000s. We had it so good being the last generation to grow up before social media took over," Morris Vigil from Austin, Texas, told Newsweek. She had such a great time living life in an era not dominated by social media that she wrote, "Could never convince me there was a better time to be in high school," in the caption.
While Gen Zs are accused of being overtly obsessed with social media, a study published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) revealed that a majority of them would trade anything to live life offline. The survey encompassing 1,293 young Britons aged between 16 to 21 found that almost half of them would prefer a world without the Internet. The young generation apparently believes that a social media curfew would substantially improve their lives.
Netizens loved Morris Vigil's video; while those who graduated in the early 2000s felt nostalgic, the younger generation wished they could experience that life. For instance, @canadiennegal1999 commented, "You all look so healthy and happy. When I was in high school (class of '18), almost everyone was sick and depressed. Technology/social media has seriously done a number on us. I was in 1st grade when you graduated, old enough to remember the good times, but I was too young to appreciate them."
@curtismass said, "We were lucky enough to hit the exact border of technology being new and exciting but simple enough that our lives didn’t completely revolve around it." @livfit02 shared, "06’ over here! My daughter is in high school and says all the time that she wishes she were in high school when I was in school — and that it sounds so amazing! I’m like, 'Girl, it was the BEST time of life.'" Similarly, @brookeallison1922 pointed out, "Notice how much happier high school kids were in 2007 vs. 2015 vs. 2025. They look genuinely happy." @mr.jason_man commented, "1990-2008: the transition where tech was making life exciting, easier, and a little less stressful. Yet lives didn’t revolve around it. The recovery after the 2008 financial collapse changed the world."
You can follow Rachel Morris Vigil (@rach.carey) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Millennial shares how their basic needs drastically differ from that of Gen Z: 'Can I get dentist?'
Share on Facebook
