I find it hard to believe that this generation of teenagers would have ever thought that we would be living amidst multiple historical events. With demands for social change, COVID-19 on the rise, and an extremely tense political climate, us teenagers have essentially been in the middle of it all. It is no secret that teenagers today are plagued by mental illness, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it many times worse.
Firstly, it seems to me that older people never believe us when we speak our pain. A vast majority of us suffer from anxiety and depression and often resort to self-harm or self-deprecating humor. However, these things are overlooked by our so-called “guardians” and we are told that it is “just a phase” or that we only want attention. I have heard many of my peers at school talk about their mental illnesses and it has shocked me on just how many people seem to struggle. Despite this, rarely any teachers reach out to students. In fact, I have heard a few even mock us for our difficulty with mental health. These factors, mixed in with the fact that we are locked inside our homes, forces us to dwell on our negative feelings and make us feel even more isolated from the world.
As stated previously, the pandemic we are currently living in has made our situations much worse. Many are stuck at home with abusive, toxic family members who steadily chip away at our mental health. There is sadly nowhere to go for these unfortunate individuals. Additionally, online school has been piling work on top of work for many students. Failing grades are a constant struggle because of stress and/or lack of motivation, and the many things going on around us make everything a lot heavier. Furthermore, as we teeter on the edge of adolescence and adulthood, we are expected to be responsible and independent but are also still seen as still children who have not fully developed yet. We honestly feel as if the world is against us.
Having said all this, I believe that a lot of us have our friends as a safe haven. We all are practically living the same life at this point and we recognize each other’s struggles. Quarantine has strengthened our friendships, but at the same time, leaves us mourning our social lives. Teenagers strive off social acceptance and having been stuck at home hits hard on the validation we desperately crave. Although we have the ability to keep in touch via social media, it is not the same as spending time with each other in person. This lack of real-life socialization, takes a toll on our mental health.
Overall, teenagers have seemingly been overlooked in the midst of this pandemic. Adults bicker over whether we should be allowed in school or continue online without letting us have an opinion. They tend to invalidate our feelings as well and, along with schoolwork, leave us feeling even more anxious. I believe it is time for this to be noticed and talked about in order for us to feel we are a part of society once more.
Written by Valencia Corradino
