Education – The state of a generation

Growing up, my Nan would often share a whakatauki with me: “he toka tū moana. Remain strong, moko.” Be like the rock that stands firm in the ocean, able to withstand the shifting tides and stormy seas.

As I reflect on the recently released “Youthline – ASB State of the Generation” report, I am reminded of these words.

The study surveyed more than 1000 young New Zealanders aged 12 to 24 and provided a fascinating insight into the opportunities, concerns, and pressures facing today’s generation.

It reveals a generation that is increasingly aware of the challenges around them. Young people identified social pressure, the cost of living, uncertainty around future employment, mental health, bullying, and the rapidly changing nature of technology as some of the biggest issues facing their generation.

Today’s youth are growing up in a world that is changing at a pace previous generations haven’t experienced. New educational demands, emerging technologies such as AI, and an uncertain employment landscape mean many are asking bigger questions about what their future might look like. 

The irony is that every adult reading this was once a teenager too.

We worried about fitting in. We craved a sense of belonging. We navigated friendships, social tensions, expectations, and uncertainty about the future. In many respects, the human experience of being a teenager has not changed all that much. What has changed is where those challenges end.

Previously, the pressures of school largely stayed at school. Once we walked through the school gate at the end of the day, there was an opportunity to disconnect and reset. Today’s youth tell us that many of these pressures travel home with them. Social media, online platforms, and smartphones have created a world where social interactions, comparisons, and expectations can continue around the clock. The research highlighted that younger people are increasingly concerned about screen time, phone addiction, and the impact social media can have on wellbeing.

Yet despite these challenges, and the report’s findings, I remain optimistic.

What I see is a generation that is thoughtful, socially aware, compassionate, and deeply connected to the issues around them. 

These are not signs of a generation struggling to cope, but of building resilience through adversity and preparing to lead.

As adults, our role is not to remove every challenge from the path ahead, but to provide encouragement, perspective, and reassurance. To remind young people that uncertainty is a normal part of life and that nobody has everything figured out.

The young people of today will solve problems we cannot yet imagine. They will lead through challenges we cannot yet see.

Perhaps now, more than ever, they need adults who remind them that things will be okay.  

He Toka Tū Moana. Be the rock that stands firm in the ocean.