In the 21st century with supermodels splashed on every magazine page and college courses getting harder and harder, the pressure to be perfect can feel like an overwhelming burden on the shoulders of many. At this point, it is almost impossible to feel completely satisfied with oneself and one's accomplishments when there is always more to be done. Better grades, a better body, more friends, a sunnier disposition, the list goes on. How is one ever supposed to be happy with themselves when society never seems to be pleased?
Mental illnesses are at an all-time high in young adults in 2016 due to the overwhelming pressure for perfection, and yet society still does not change its critical views on the young men and women of the future. It's so easy for people of older generations to place the weight of the world on our shoulders because "they could handle it when they were our age", but hasn't it come to their attention that times have changed? The job market is harder to break into than ever, and the pressure for extended education has intensified to a new extreme over the past 50 years. In a sense, it is not the worst thing in the world to hold oneself to high expectations. With loftier goals can come more success, but where do we draw the line? When is what we are doing with our lives, enough?
Speaking from experience, college has been one of the most growth-filled experiences I have ever encountered. The freedom to thrive has allowed me to work on my independence and drive and I feel like I have finally decided on the path I want to follow in my life. In these 6 short months, I have come into the person I was always meant to be and I am proud of all that I have achieved. On the other hand, it has also succeeded in creating a subtle growth in my anxiety to be the best at everything I do. No matter how pleased I am with any of my performances, there is always the nagging feeling in the back of my head that I could've done more. At the end of the day, I find myself thinking for hours about how I could have eaten better that day, or been a better friend, or participated more in class. Around midterms, it was unacceptable to even consider the possibility of a B, and knowing that I "tried my best" was not enough for me. Yes, it can be argued that I am putting the pressure on myself, however, if a mass group of my peers feels the same way, isn't this representative of a flaw in society? Giving advice to others, it was easy to throw out a quick "College is hard. Cut yourself some slack," yet when it comes to myself, that advice is not what I ever need to hear. I don't care that I tried my best, I want to achieve more. And this is what society has done to myself and so many of my overstressed and over-expectant peers.
This has been the norm for me until a few days ago when I stepped back and wondered, "When is enough, enough? Why can I not simply be happy with myself?" It is so difficult to recognize in yourself the destructive tendency that is tearing other young adults apart from the inside out.
So, a change needs to be made. Through all of society, from our parents to the millennials, it needs to be acknowledged that enough is enough. Yes, it is true that more could have always been achieved. But at the end of the day, it is what was achieved that matters and that should be enough. Life should not be filled with "should have's" and "I wish's". Life should be filled with the thrill of knowing that there is so much more to gain in the future and where we are at now is merely a stepping stone to that. A failed test, a bad day, or a mistake is not the end of the world and it is painful to see what society has done to those supposed to run our country in just a few years. Without the belief in our ability to succeed, we will try for nothing, losing out on everything.
Although easier said than done, it is necessary to step back and acknowledge the problem in an attempt to heal the damage done to the mental health of the young adults in our world. The pressure for perfection is tough, but even if we can't do it all, what we can do should most definitely be enough.
