Our society is raising a generation of young people who, although they work hard, are chasing an unattainable level of perfection – more ‘likes’ on social media, better marks at school, and a greater level of approval in society – and this constant striving is draining them. Girls and boys, both as children and adolescents, are like a sort of puzzle with missing pieces. These twenty-first century youngsters are lacking certain mental qualities and morals, such as the ability to cope with making mistakes, and with stress, they lack optimism and curiosity, empathy, and perseverance. The main consequence of this type of incomplete character development is the inability to become individuals who work hard to achieve certain objectives, and adults who are successful in an ever-changing world.
The root of this problem lies in the adult obsession for their children to develop their cognitive skills, with the belief that excellent academic performance will be enough to ensure their success in life. From when they are very little, today’s parents jam pack their kids’ days with activities such as sports, private lessons, and other extracurricular options, based on what the grown-ups think is most suitable to help further their academic careers. There are hardly any children nowadays who have the chance to spend their free time gazing wondrously at clouds, building sandcastles, or flying kites. This frenetic time management, added to the complete impossibility of them ever getting bored (and therefore having the opportunity to invent their own entertainment) has contributed to a generation of kids who are seriously lacking in the inner strength required to overcome obstacles, and pick themselves up when they fail. Young people today no longer feel in control of their own destiny, nor do they have an “I can do it” mindset: when they enter adulthood, they are already exhausted, anxious and fragile.
