Looking throughout time periods and different ages, we see drastic changes in expectations and events and things that are portrayed as “normal.”
We have Mary giving birth to Jesus at 14: normal. Then there was a time when women only stayed home to cook and clean: normal. There was a time when college wasn’t considered a “mandatory” type of schooling to succeed in life. There was a time women weren’t supposed to go to college, and there was a time when being able to read made you smarter than most people around you.
Times change, ideals change, and as generations come and go, the college kids of this generation are in the hardest one yet.
College kids have it hard? I know your answer — “yeah right.” Many adults wish they had the privilege to go to college and many wish they were able to do the things that college kids have at the palm of their hands. We have internships, job opportunities — we have so many possibilities and options now. Any person can truly become anything they want to be. But here’s the hard part-how are we supposed to know?
While most students do take in every option they have, we often become overwhelmed and torn down by these options. Meaning, that because of how many clubs, intramurals, internships and jobs out there, we are expected to have filled resumes by the time we graduate.
Expectations have substantially risen since even our parents’ generation. The ideal college GPA has gone up because it’s not simply just having a college GPA — it’s outshining others with your GPA. It’s not about what clubs you were in but it’s about what positions you held. We are held to a higher standard now. We’re expected to have jobs, internships, resume builders, while making a high GPA and being involved on campus. We’re supposed to make connections and friends, and also take 16 credit hours. We’re supposed to do this and do that, while many of us still don’t even know what we want to major in.
There is so much pressure built up on this idea that as 18,19, 20 year old college students we’re supposed to be perfect. We are given a higher standard to uphold and greater expectations than any generations before us. At what point does it become overwhelming?
We want to impress employers, parents and even the students around us. We forget to stop and be proud of ourselves for the little things, like the B you worked all semester for in your impossible history class, or landing a position for your favorite club. Our generation needs to be more passionate and more uplifting. We focus on all the things we could’ve done and not all of the things we did do. At only 19, we shouldn’t be held to such a high standard. Most of us are doing way more than our parents ever did at our age and they are successful enough to send their kids to college.
We may be told we’re supposed to have a major, and we’re supposed to have a job lined up, and be involved, and be personable, and have internships, and have a filled resume- but we need to stop and be ourselves. We’re told that we should be able to buy groceries, cook, and clean, and that we should have common sense and book knowledge. We’re supposed to have talents and hobbies but also have a high GPA and good recommendations. We’re supposed to have it altogether-but we’re only 19.
