The Sleepless Generation

As I nestle in my covers each night, the world outside my window continues to burst with uncertainty and my internal abyss is a sea of thoughts that keep me from falling into a deep slumber. The gleam of social media echoes, the redundancy of television reports, and the word of mouth among friends to friends mingles together as a persecution of fears and hopes that today define a teenager’s life. It is not just teenage angst; it is that broader landscape that stares at us blankly in the face, something that genuinely wakes us up permanently.

It is in that moment we cannot sleep, pulled awake by thought, media, and everything in between, when we turn to our phone. The bearer of calm yet storm.

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Politics and Powerlessness

One enormous source of anxiety in the Gen-Z day in age is our political situation, which seems more explosive and amorphous than ever. Over the past several years, inflammatory speech, tensions between government escalating, selfishness, cowardice, and day in and day out demonstrations have filled headlines. Wars and violences throughout the world are more than current abstract storylines; they are up-close personal because the face I imagine is one living through real suffering.

I can’t help but wonder about the effect these political choices will have on our generation's future. Will I be of age when conflict is still able to be stopped? But will it be too late? What kind of place are future generations going to receive Earth as if international leaders value the pound instead of peace? Unpredictability from our world’s leaders, big and small, occupying every office leaves a great feeling of powerlessness long after those headlines have changed.

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The Climate Panic

My nights continue to be fearful as our earth suffers through effects of global warming. We’re on a dangerous trajectory, and there’s no eye to cover. I feel anxiety grip my stomach in uncontrollable knots every time I read of severe weather patterns, deforestation, melting ice.

I see gut wrenching videos of animals losing their homes. We are all someone’s baby. It's frightening to imagine the choices we are making today will directly affect the planet tomorrow. When the floods rise and when the fires burn, I panic about the trail we are leaving behind. Will nature continue with life after this? Are we, as a generation able to reduce harm, or is it too late?

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The Economics of Uncertainty

Our generation, caught up in only a step ahead rather than the broader future feeds into economic anxiety. To face the job market, not out of passion but out of instability, is to face scary prospects, even scarier in an environment that appears to change constantly before our very eyes. I see friends already struggling with the fact that college debt is real and that the job security of past generations seems a little mythical, if anything to us today.

In this day and age, where gig work is made to pass off as normal life and economic stability appears tenuous, at best, it is hard not to feel burdensome pressure to "make it through,” somehow. I wonder, even, what that looks like. Will I be so lucky as to get a job that follows the passion I want, which will, in turn, allow me financial freedom with which to thrive, or will I get pushed into careers that I do not find value in, all so I can pay the bills? Our generation is birthed with having a constant fear of stagnation: that we will try our best and still end up in an unforgiving atmosphere.

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The Mind That Won’t Stop

Our brains never stop, and while some people call that a gift, I often fear it's a curse. I replay the conversations in my head: do people actually like me? Is this relationship working, or is there somebody else?

It is an endless circle in my head-the path leading me down an insecure, doubtful road. Self-questions cloud my mind every night, day, morning, any time. It’s exhausting. There’s moments when all I fear is if I'll wake up the next morning. I fear missing out on life. I want to someday walk the streets of Boston when I am a Grad student happily getting coffee before the lab but how do I even get there? It’s almost as if I am afraid of the work I know I must put in.

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The Spark of Hope

To every fear, there’s a spark of hope. Amidst the mess around us, I see a generation of drive and determination. Younger generations have become more concerned about social and environmental problems.

We use social networks to push for change, tell our stories, and galvanize support behind issues that align with our values. Climate protests and movements of social justice have given our voices and vehicles for the hopes. So heartening, seeing so many young people united, motivated by one single vision of a brighter future. The feeling of togetherness gives a sense of purpose and mobilization, reminding us that even as we confront great problems, we too are a part of something greater… a movement going forward.

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Grit as Optimism

I also strongly believe that this is where optimism comes from: grit. Our generation has been through hard times, but at the same time, we have learned to be adaptable and capable. The special gift this generation can reach out to other people beyond the lines if those be political, geographical, or even cultural, which helps us build dialogue as well as cooperation.

We know the best answers come from diverse voices collaborating to create change. There is some security knowing that we are each other's support people; here, we can just be scared and work together to do the achievable. There’s a barrier these days between generations and maybe that’s hope! On nights where it’s hard to sleep, I remind myself that hope and fears are not separable. Yes, it is beyond doubt that our generation has lost sleep due to fear of political turmoil, natural calamities, and economic insecurity, but it's also that which urges us to dream of something different. Navigating these nuances, I draw comfort in the belief that change is within our generation's reach.

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The Future We’ll Write

We, as a generation, will rise to change the established, will speak out for the planet, call the leaders to account, and forge a future whence voices values and visions. It is the recognition of fear that puts us into action. We are the best generation to face this future, I am sure we will forge a path to a brighter future.

Our voices count, and so do our dreams. With that knowledge, I see clarity beyond the cacophony, reminding myself that the future is just a blank sheet of paper, and we are its authors ready to splat paint and rewrite haphazardly yet eloquently.