“No matter what happens, you need to be strong enough to push through it and make it to the other side and I think that’s what the pandemic taught me…”
It is inevitable to feel lost throughout many stages in your life, especially in your twenties, let alone in today’s day and age in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. You open your social media page filled with your friends and acquaintances achieving milestones, travelling the world, building a career while you’re, laying in your bed, or, working in a job that doesn’t fulfill you, contemplating what went wrong.
Feelings of uncertainty arises, and the pressure of having to have your life ‘all figured out’ starts to pan out. But isn’t this what being in your twenties all about?
The twenties, also known as the defining decade, is all about finding yourself, with young people in the digital age setting off on this journey of self discovery on the internet. Since the pandemic broke out, the pressure to keep up with others, especially now. It can be time consuming, often leaving many young adults to feel burnt out and question if they’re falling behind, or if they’re caught in a digital trap because of the impact covid-19 had on them, leaving them unprepared for the future.
Figures from last year’s study by the University of Oxford, highlights how young people’s mental health became progressively worse. The rise of depression rates increased 8.5%, compared to a 0.3% in those before the pandemic. Additionally, general mental health and wellbeing difficulties also rose 12.8% in comparison to the 4.5% increase in pre-pandemic.
Oxford University
But behind these numbers, there are real personal stories of people that experienced perseverance, confusion and growth. I spoke to a handful of young adults to understand how the pandemic shaped their journey to young adulthood.
Eksha, 22, who just graduated this year, gave her two cents when reflecting on her journey, “There are times where I still feel like I am 17,” she says. “I felt like I missed out on my youth. Now that I have graduated, I am starting to accept I am 22 entering the real world.” Like others, Eksha experienced the fear of lost time and the pressure to adapt in a fast-paced world. “You see these people posting their micro achievements [LinkedIn] and you feel small. You feel like you need to achieve something too.”
For Link, 20, In this unique time where everyone was locked inside, it took a toll on his mental health, “Covid had made me so indifferent that it didn’t matter to me who got ahead.” He admits. Now back in education to finish off his A-levels, Link’s fresh start allows him to try again and work on himself. “I think all these events in my life have helped me grow to understand that uncertainty is just a part of life.”
Giedre, 27, offers a perspective of determination. A project management specialist, she shared how the pandemic allowed herself to become who she is today, “Reflecting led me to self discovery of realizing that I should be proactive and take the chances when they are still there.”
These experiences are so similar, yet so different Eksha comments, “In a way, COVID deprived our connection to get to know people” Experiencing this once in a lifetime condition, many young people’s shifts in behaviors, learning and social interaction changed abruptly leading to a much rougher transition into adulthood which creates a great amount of psychological distress compared to other groups.
As the world keeps spinning the question still remains, how can you move on from these setbacks?
For Eksha, that meant for her to take a break from education, and focus on how to put herself out there, “I am lost because I am. I am just in my 20s and you are bound to feel lost,” she says, “It’s the time where you figure yourself out because you’re changing and growing. It’s a new stage.”
But to Link, it’s only just the beginning. “Being in your twenties does make it unique,” He responds in a ray of hope. “With it being your first time round, you’re bound to not get it just right and that’s okay.”
Finally, Giedre who achieved her goal advises, “Comparison is the biggest thief of joy, everything happens for a reason. We should only focus on the things that we can control.”
These 20 somethings has always been a time for growth, feelings of doubt and self discovery. Feeling lost is nothing new under the sun, every generation will go through this at some point, and although Covid-19 made it a lot worse for today’s generation, everything will work out in the end. You just need to believe.