Throughout human history, the period we’re living in is the safest, most peaceful that humankind has ever experienced, and yet some people in Gen Z feel like there is no hope in our future.
According to Voices Digital, “42% of Gen Z battles with depression and feelings of hopelessness, which is almost twice as high as Americans who are over 25 (23%).”
With mass shootings in schools, a global pandemic, turbocharged political turmoil, climate change, and competition in school and at work, many members of Gen Z want to give up. They are put under a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed in life and they feel like they can’t do it.
On the other hand, as Forbes states, “This number is all the more surprising because in the same study, 76% of respondents expressed optimism about the future, and 82% are confident that they’ll achieve their goals someday.”
There is a surprising divide between hopelessness and hopefulness. One side preaches nihilism, while the other preaches perseverance. One side wants to give up because of societal pressure, while the other wants to change society. It’s possible that no other generation has this massive of a divide.
One argument that the nihilist side of Gen Z proposes is that there is too much economic uncertainty. According to Forbes says, “Gen-Z feels substantial anxiety and stress about jobs, long-term financial stability and major life steps, such as buying a home and starting a family. The current economy and job market are primary sources of uncertainty for this generation” The world experienced a pandemic, sanctions on Russian oil, inflation, and the first signs of climate change and more. All of these problems have created an unstable economy for the U.S.
Furthermore, many companies are laying off their employees, so the prospect of obtaining a high paying job seems slim in the eyes of Gen Z. As the BBC states, “For university-aged Gen Zers, many were forced to finish their degrees in isolating, fully virtual learning environments during the pandemic, only to transition directly into a precarious economic situation and unusual workplace conditions, complete with the threat – and often, the reality – of furlough or redundancy. And junior employees across the board – even if they’ve had a few years of workforce experience – have also been less likely to form meaningful connections among their colleagues, and build relationships with essential mentors”
Another reason why Gen Z feels hopeless is the excessive amount of academic and career competition. According to Scion Advisory, “Parents have been pushing to position their child to succeed in a new income environment with growing inequality. There has been an intense focus for students on achieving academic excellence, developing stand-out resumés, and positioning to get into the best college possible. Focus groups with young people show that Generation Z understands that when they step into the workforce they’re competing with applicants from all over the world who can do what they do better, possibly for less.”
Students at NASH are known for being highly competitive. They face pressure to take the most challenging classes, maintain straight A’s, and participate in sports and clubs to appeal to selective colleges and universities. Some NASH students burn themselves out because of the workload, all to impress either colleges or family and friends. The stress can often feel insurmountable.
Nevertheless, though Gen Z may seem hopeless, many teens beg to differ. The Commonwealth Times states, “This generation has shown resilience in being a political voice for the future… to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, yearly school shootings and other horrific historical events, Gen Z has seen the world change in unprecedented ways.”
For instance, Gen Z has been especially politically active. As United Way NCA states, “ They are using their voices and social media influence to bring attention to important issues such as climate change, gun control and equality. It is important for us to enable them to continue advocating for the change we all want to see in the world and not let their voices go unheard.”
Additionally, Gen Z prioritizes personal well-being. According to Douglas Greenwood at I-D, “A new study by Randstad, published on Business Insider, shows that today’s younger generation would sooner quit a job than remain unhappy in it, essentially leaving bosses who treat their staff like workhorses in a dangerous predicament.”
Gen Z knows that the world they live in is challenging, and many members have learned to take care of themselves first.
Another reason for Gen Z’s hopefulness is that they see many opportunities in their future. According to The Washington Post, “Despite the severe loss of jobs during the pandemic, Gen Z actually has more opportunities than any group of recent graduates going back to before the Great Recession.” Some people in Gen Z don’t see this path as the only path to success so they will take different paths that fit their style.
While older generations are concerned about the impact of AI on the future workforce, according to the National Millennial and Gen Z Community, “Gen Z, with its adaptability and tech-savviness, is well-equipped to navigate these changes and capitalize on the new opportunities AI brings.”
So while the difficulties of the modern world continue to grow, so do the opportunities. Perhaps the most accurate view of Gen Z is that their attitudes, habits, and viewpoints are as varied as the those of the generations that preceded them. To categorize Gen Z as hopeless or optimistic seems, in the end, far too simplistic.
