What constitutes a world as "real"? What is the criteria that diagnoses you as a "real adult"? We make jokes about how "adulting" is hard and argue about which generation had or has it worse, but no matter how old you are, there is always an assumption that life is easier at a younger age, and the struggles at that age aren't "real". When do you realize that the life you are living is your reality?
I am among the generation that competes for the best. We were always taught to strive for better and that we could always improve. There was no settling or staying comfortable, and at one point, there was no "doing it for fun". Everything became a competition. That mindset isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when I look back at how I shaped my life according to the mindset and how my life is now, there are a lot of factors that make me realize that I may always be searching for something better.
We're told that in elementary school we're getting prepared for middle school, then in middle school for high school and high school for college or a career. There was always another level that needed to be prepared for. College or a career is no different. College students are told from day one that the degree they're working towards is going to open doors. However when they walk through those doors, there's more needed than just a degree. Experience, certifications, internships, or intensive research is all a part of the package and all of a sudden, a degree is no longer enough. We're told to strive for the best internships or devote time to have as much experience in a field as possible all while sacrificing valuable time with friends, family, and even ourselves. Being a young adult already in their career, there's always criticism that we should want more in life. Whether that's being told to go back to school or work harder to advance in the field, there is no being satisfied with what you have, even if what you have makes you happy. In this generation, happiness can sometimes be seen as weakness, because everyone is competing for who struggles the most.
I'm tired of being told that my experiences and my hard work is "nothing" compared to what's to come in my life. There's so much anxiety surrounding building a future that I don't even have time to look at what's in front of me. Young adults today are struggling with simple tasks like cleaning a bedroom or scheduling doctors appointments because we have to weigh out the potential gain or loss. Have to take off from work to get an annual check-up? Some don't even blink an eye at saying they can't take off work because in their minds, the work is more important than their health.
Is this the reality all of you "real adults" are talking about? Because if so, I want to be a part of the generation that creates a healthy pace for life, and not one that we have to compete for.
