Where were you 10 years ago? Those of us in high school weren’t even in 3rd grade yet when the 2010s began. And since then we’ve had 2 different presidents, 10 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy and 15 different iPhones.

Through the past decade, so much has changed, yet it was such a formational decade for many of us. The 2010s brought us things like Disney Channel, One Direction, and a 90s comeback, among many, many other things. 

“Most of the teens now that are in high school grew up in the 2010s, so that’s kind of like our childhood years,” said junior Juliette Sabre. “That’s what we’re gonna look back on.”

The past 10 years really have been a decade for Gen Z; this is the decade many of us will remember when we recount our childhood, and it’s the decade in which our generation began to make our impact on the world.

“I think generationally, or in the last decade, you see people really wanting to kind of define their own style,” said media teacher and dean, Karen Slusher. “I feel like you see a lot of variety and you see a lot of different ways of establishing who you are.”

Fashion is one way people today are defining themselves, and the 2010s have seen a wide range of fashion choices. One of the most prevalent trends: the 90s came back.

“Scrunchies are back, the poofy hair is back, just the whole 90s is back,” said Sabre. Slusher noticed it too. 

“What was popular when I was in high school is now all of a sudden popular,” said Slusher. “Overalls are all of a sudden popular again and I wish I’d kept all of mine because I could make some decent money.”

Alongside fashion, music has changed too. Beyonce released Lemonade, and Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Cardi B entered the music scene. Taylor Swift switched to pop, and the Jonas Brothers came back. One Direction was born and they died in this past decade, and Lizzo, Twenty One Pilots, and Kendrick Lamar all got their start. And that only scratches the surface of all the music that shaped the 2010s. 

Technology has vastly evolved in the past 10 years, too. We witnessed the rise of Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, and TikTok. Instead of using CDs, we now stream most of our music. And with all the streaming services available now, TV shows and movies are much more available as well. 

With the advent of Netflix, Hulu and Disney+, Blockbuster has gone out of business and thousands of shows and movies are at our fingertips. Some of those very shows are what shaped this decade for many.

“The 2010s was when Disney Channel was thriving.” said Sabre, recounting its impact on so many members of the younger generation. Freshman Bri Mullen cited iCarly and Victorious as some of the most influential shows of the 2010s for her. 

Meanwhile, The Office and Friends regained popularity and Stranger Things aided in an 80s comeback. Not to mention, Black Panther was released, along with Avengers: Endgame, three new additions to the Stars Wars series, and Jordan Peele’s hit horror film, Get Out. 

Fashion, music, and pop culture, as always, shifted throughout the 2010s, but what’s been consistent is the attempt towards better representation. And while the attempt hasn’t been entirely successful, the fact that it’s being addressed is a step in the right direction. 

“I think it’s inspiring when I think especially about different movements that have started or different things that people are more aware of now,” said social studies and AVID teacher Faith Vigil. Slusher agreed with this sentiment.

“You’re starting to really see that the young voices can have a say and that more and more kids are going to be outspoken about what they want to see,” said Slusher. “And it’s going to start shaping more in the political landscape.” Being more outspoken is one of the things that seems to define the recent generation, as Sabre echoed both Slusher and Vigil in this observation.

“We’ve been more outgoing and outspoken,” said Sabre, describing the responsibility she feels her generation has to fix all the issues going on, including climate change and gun control. And although we saw the rise of many issues, many others are being recognized now more than ever. 

“I think you saw a lot more with like the LGBTQ rights [this decade],” said Slusher. I think you saw a lot more when it came to looking at mental health. You obviously saw a lot more when it came to women’s rights.” Attention on women’s rights seemed to peak this decade, headed by the #MeToo movements and the Women’s March.

“For me, the Women’s March was a big part of the change that needed to happen.” Slusher said. Vigil also described the impact of women’s rights for her.

“As an AVID teacher, I think one of the things I’ve been really inspired by is just watching how many young women have pursued going to college like my generation,” said Vigil. “I do think that we’re seeing an evolution of who’s represented and who has a voice and I think that goes for women.”

Aside from the Women’s March and the #MeToo movement, other political movements have also exploded this decade. From Black Lives Matter to Occupy Wall Street to the Dreamer movement, a diverse variety of groups are using their voices to incite change.

“I feel like the current generation…will start to define a lot of what culturally is important.” said Slusher. Already, the younger generation has brought certain issues to the forefront, like Greta Thumberg’s activism regarding climate change. However, while it’s good that more cultural issues are getting attention, it could potentially create its own problems.

“I think that’s important for everybody to have a voice,” said Vigil. “But I think where we are right now is everybody’s trying to be the loudest voice in the room and that I think just flames that division,” she worries. Division, another unfortunate theme of the 2010s, has cropped up too often, whether politically, socially, or culturally.

“We are definitely a divided nation right now,” said Vigil. “I do feel like there’s a certain unease to this decade where I don’t feel like anybody really can feel completely safe.” 

Anonymity is one issue that’s worsening division according to both Slusher and Vigil, particularly with the Internet and social media.

 “You start to see this false sense of security and so I think social media needs to kind of start taking a backseat to to actual interactions,” said Slusher. “I’d like to see that in the next decade.” Vigil had a similar hope.

“My dreams for 2020 would be that we as a group of humans can just be nicer to each other and, you know, take a step back from, you know, the social media versions of ourselves that have no accountability,” said Vigil. And although she sees the glaring divisions that are defining our world today, she hopes for better in the upcoming decade -as do many of us.

“At the end of the day, we share more in common than we have in differences with one another,” said Vigil. “It’s just right now I think we’re shining this light on our differences as opposed to seeing our common humanity.”

Looking back on the decade, we can focus on the division or political turmoil if we so choose. And while it’s important to recognize such problems, there were many, happier moments of the decade that also deserve attention. 

Simone Biles, for example, became the most decorated gymnast at only 22. The Ice Bucket challenge raised over $115 million for the ALS Association. Hamilton graced the stages.  Misty Copeland became the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the elite American Ballet Theatre. Strides were taken and history was made, and the future is wide open.

“I have a lot of goals for my future,” said freshman Bri Mullen. “Like to go to college and graduate high school, stuff like that.” The next 10 years are just waiting to be written, and so much can happen in just one decade. 

“If you think about it, we’re all gonna graduate and probably go to college and start our careers,” said Sabre. “We’ll be starting a new chapter in our lives.”