The Class of 2024

With the Class of 2024 graduating from University, here’s a list of major world events that took place as they grew up.

Understanding the ‘context’ in which Gen Z was born and raised can help us better understand, empathise with, engage and support graduating students, as they prepare to enter the workforce.


Major Events*:

2001-2002

Internet already widely used

9/11 Attacks (2001): Major impact on global security and politics.

Wikipedia Launched (2001)

First iPod Released (2001)

2003 (Age 1)

Human Genome Project Completed (2003)

The start of the Second Gulf War (2003)

2004 (Age 2)

Facebook Launched (2004)

Tsunami in the Indian Ocean (2004): Massive humanitarian crisis.

2005 (Age 3)

YouTube Founded (2005)

Hurricane Katrina (2005)

Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Canada (2005)

2006 (Age 4)

Twitter Launched (2006)

Pluto Reclassified as a Dwarf Planet (2006)

2007 (Age 5)

iPhone Released (2007): The advent of the smartphone era.

Global Financial Crisis Beginnings (2007-2008)

2008 (Age 6)

Barack Obama Elected President (2008): First African-American president of the USA

Global Financial Crisis: Major economic downturn.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologizes for Residential Schools (2008)

2009 (Age 7)

H1N1 Influenza Pandemic (2009)

Bitcoin Created (2009)

2010 (Age 8)

Instagram Launched (2010)

Arab Spring Begins (2010-2011): Series of anti-government protests across the Middle East and North Africa.

Vancouver Winter Olympics (2010)

2011 (Age 9)

Osama bin Laden Killed (2011)

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (2011)

Syria Civil War Begins (2011)

2012 (Age 10)

Higgs Boson Particle Discovered (2012)

Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars (2012)

Sandy Hook School Shooting (2012)

2013 (Age 11)

Edward Snowden NSA Leaks (2013)

Black Lives Matter Movement Begins (2013)

Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster (2013)

2014 (Age 12)

Rise of ISIS (2014)

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (2014)

MH370 Disappearance (2014)

2015 (Age 13)

Paris Climate Agreement (2015)

Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in the US (2015)

Election of Justin Trudeau (2015)

2016 (Age 14)

Brexit Vote (2016)

Donald Trump Elected President (2016)

Pokemon Go Craze (2016)

Fort McMurray Wildfire in Alberta (2016)

2017 (Age 15)

#MeToo Movement (2017)

Total Solar Eclipse Visible Across the US (2017)

Canada 150 Celebrations (2017)

2018 (Age 16)

March for Our Lives (2018): Advocacy against gun violence.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Bleaching (2018)

2019 (Age 17)

Climate Strikes by Greta Thunberg (2019)

Notre Dame Cathedral Fire (2019)

2020 (Age 18)

COVID-19 Pandemic (2020): Lockdowns, remote learning, no graduation ceremonies.

Black Lives Matter Protests (2020): Following the death of George Floyd.

US Election and Capitol Riot (2020)

2021 (Age 19)

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout (2021)

Global Supply Chain Disruptions (2021)

US Withdrawal from Afghanistan (2021)

Discovery of Unmarked Graves at Residential Schools (2021)

2022 (Age 20)

Russia Invades Ukraine (2022): Global instability and economic impacts.

Inflation Rises Globally (2022)

James Webb Space Telescope Launched (2021, operational 2022)

2023 (Age 21)

Economic Inflation and Recession Fears (2023)

Artificial Intelligence Advancements (2023): Widespread adoption and ethical debates.

2024 (Age 22)

Graduating from University (2024)

Ongoing Climate Change Challenges

Global Political Polarization: Continued debates and conflicts.

*NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list - it simply offers a few examples of events that may have shaped the life experiences of the Class of 2024

Previous
Previous

Ideas for Workplace Rituals

Next
Next

Onboarding & Retention: Enhancing the Employment Experience