We’ve all gone through it at some point, feeling like we’re climbing a mountain of work without a summit, all the while aware of the seemingly successful adults around us, farther into their lives — with stable incomes, houses, cars, and families. It’s an experience most of us are probably all too familiar with from early on in our lives, starting with looking up to middle-schoolers as elementary-schoolers, all the way until college where most people consider to be the final step to becoming functioning members of society. Perhaps it is because of this ultimate reality that growing up feels so much more like an unattainable goal. We can’t help but wonder if the previous generations really did go through the same situation as us in the past, or if everything really was that much easier back in their day.

The most significant generational difference of note would be recent technological developments. With the widespread use of the Internet, it has become easier than ever to share information and connect with others around the world — leading to a present where innovation  is higher than ever, all the while social trends seem to appear and vanish faster than we can properly adjust to them. Despite the outwardly positive appearance of technology, it comes with its hidden challenges. In such a rapidly changing environment, even those with graduate degrees are finding it harder and harder to secure jobs, even more so with recent developments such as ChatGPT threatening the integrity of countless white collar jobs. This has led up to a present in which gig jobs have begun to spike in popularity to help make ends meet. The introduction of technology into our social lives has also exacerbated many of our problems, especially regarding mental health issues. Inventions like social media heighten rates of both anxiety and depression, and also prove to be a detriment to our general productivity.

Problems in our livelihoods extend beyond just technology. Many people now still feel the long-term effects of the financial crisis of 2007-2008, or more closely to the present with both the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine situation and the current US bank failure. They all occur almost in tandem, leading to never-before-seen rates of inflation. Compared to back when a job of just 15 USD an hour could comfortably afford all of a family's needs, now it requires two, if not three, times the same rate to meet personal demands. In our current world, accessing higher paying occupations has become nearly impossible without a degree, which is getting increasingly unaffordable. This has resulted in a paradoxical loop where people pursue degrees to afford a life for themselves, while also drowning in education-related debt that ultimately prevents them from truly living their lives. There is some sense of irony in seeing what we made initially to improve our livelihoods ultimately turn against the general population.

Despite all this, given that we are more socially and politically aware than ever before, recent generations have still proven themselves resilient and quick to adapt to changes. Though it is undoubtedly apparent that our generation faces significant problems, it is ultimately meaningless to list out the reasons for our struggles. Rather, we should face them head on and continue to come up with solutions as we have done for so long. Considering those from Generation X have endured the hardships brought about by the Cold War and constant threat of a nuclear holocaust, and baby boomers faced the enormous recession period following the end of the Second World War; this may all just be a case of a difficult start. Generational difficulties are nothing new, which is perhaps where our initial fears stem from. As the reins are slowly handed over to us, we’ve equally inherited the responsibilities and problems of the world which have been, for as long as we’ve been alive, shielded from us.