As times have changed and access to information has increased, there seems to be an increased emphasis on knowing the correct answer rather than trying. Any millennial can confirm this.

Throughout our educations, there was always more praise for high grades than for effort. Your success in this world, aside from those who have an “in” due to connections, is directly related to said grades.

At the same time, this generation has seen an upset in the way it goes about the idea of romance. It’s about doing things right, not just doing things.

We judge each other on our ability to meet or exceed expectations because that’s the way we were raised. Rather than notice the emotion that was put in, the final product is judged on its own.

I believe that this – the increased focus on knowing and being correct – is a part of what is driving such a large percentage of this generation to have increased levels of anxiety or depression.

While facing the pressure of getting good grades and presenting a perfect front in a relationship, we are also under the pressure of doing better than the generation before us. The belief that access to this information will allow us to go further than any generation before us is logical but emotionally misguided.

The belief is that we will use this technology to help us thrive under pressure. But the pressure isn’t what is motivating us; it’s the fear of failure or the need to make money to secure a future.

We were not raised in a society that applauded effort but rather condemned failure. This condemnation was implemented through installing fears of what the future would look like without academic or romantic success.

A combination of all of that has been what is weighing on me and many of my peers as we make the transition from being children to adults. While I cannot speak for their experiences, I can speak for my own.

The truth is, as a student who has always had the solutions, being in a position where there are unanswered questions is unnerving. It’s like having the rug pulled out from under me.

The question I had answered has now changed. For a long time, I was beating myself up about it, sure that these unanswered questions would result in my failure.

But then I realized something, and my perspective has been changed.

It’s alright to not know the answer.

Despite everything we have been taught and judged on, the truth is that there will be times when we don’t know – even cannot know – the answer. While the doubts we have in ourselves will always resurface, an acceptance that they are only natural can help.

I read a post on Facebook that said we are all going to be different people in six months. Whatever is bothering you now will eventually cease to bother you, and we will all have new things to worry about.

Go on going on. Be yourself. Pursue your dreams. There will be a day when your problem is solved or when you come up with the solution.

But for now, it’s alright not to know.