Pandemic + Stimulus Check + No Jobs = Recipe of Disaster for Millennials
I mean 2020 hasn’t been kind to anyone.
Doesn’t matter whether you’re a 5-year-old or 70, it has impacted everyone in a way that hasn’t been witnessed in recent memory.
But there is one segment that has been hit hard — Really Hard.
That segment is Millennials.
Millennials are probably the most tech-savvy, team-oriented, achievement-oriented, sentimental and talented generation of all times.
In a typical day, they can attend a class, enjoy a party, play an online game, talk to their friends over Facebook, make a Tik Tok and do all of this while driving a car.
Having so much multitasking abilities makes you wonder that they are doing just fine.
But the reality is far from that.
The reality is that they made a mistake.
And that mistake is that they are born in this era.
The era that is gearing up for rapid change with a manual that is handy for the 18th century.
It’s like getting your Tesla fixed by a Diesel mechanic.
And then complaining that Tesla is rude to not comply with the expertise of the mechanic.
So why is it that they are hit hard the most?
I mean everyone gets knocked down once in a while but they aren’t just affected in the short-term in fact, they are on the course to become the greatest generation that never reached their potential. Here is how:
a. The Education
What they are being taught, the way they are being taught and the skills that they are asked to achieve, have very little to do with who they are.
Millennials are a generation that wants to make a difference. They really want to have an impact on this world.
How?
Even they don’t know.
In such a scenario, educationists need to step up their game.
They need to first identify the interests of a kid; tell them the good, the bad and the ugly about it and then let them know exactly how they can have an impact by pursuing what they want to do.
Gone are the days when you can teach them anything and everything like a heard of cattle until year 12 and then ask them to choose a career.
It’s already too late to ask.
b. Social Media
This is a tricky one.
Social Media has done a lot of good things for the millennials but there are two things that are detrimental to them.
First, given them an abundance of information that made them “Compare” their life to that of their friends.
Secondly, reduced their attention spans that made it hard for them to memorise or remember anything.
Notice that it has reduced their memory to remember stuff but their ability to “Feel” stuff is still the same; if not more.
This brings them on an altered emotional state.
They don’t remember anything; they act like they are careless, reckless, irresponsible and because of it, their emotional energy is somewhat weak.
They seem to be in a constant state of withdrawal.
They look for validation, from anyone and for anything.
Their minds can compare the specs of the latest Xbox or Playstation but they need to use a calculator to divide 15 by 3.
A perfect example of such behaviour is the “Ask me anything” story-option that most of the millennials have tried on their Instagram.
Another example is Sarahah.com that became a hit among Millenials in early 2019 as it allowed people to leave feedback anonymously.
In other words, Sarahah let any stranger comment about you for anything without ever revealing the identity of the commentator.
c. Stimulus Check
Now I support this initiative of the first world counties to provide stimulus check money to people who have lost their jobs or who have already been jobless.
It is definitely a great move.
But, the question is:
Is it really considered “help” by the recipients or is it a fall-back plan for them?
Let’s make no mistake, in the light of current events of 2020, it is a great move.
But how will we tackle this “Stimulus Habit” once the pandemic will die out?
If they grow up with the confidence of “If I lose my job, the government will support me”.
How will this shape up their mindset, resilience, relationships and above all, their mental health?
How will the millennials adapt to the changing conditions of the world without government support?
In 10 years time, will it turn them into adults that take responsibility for everything that happens to them and move forward with their head held high or will it make them go on a protest for everything that they want but weren't given by the government?
These are some of the key questions that are yet to be answered and individually we have to make sure that we play our part in shaping up this generation so they can reach their optimum potential.
In order to do that, we definitely have to go out of our way to help them, nurture them, assist them and make them understand their potential without forcing our agendas upon them.
