By: Ila Bumagin, Sophomore
Teens these days. All we do is talk about ourselves and how special we are, how Gen Z is unique and weird, and what a difference we’ll make. But we certainly have a lot to say, and instead of talking about myself (I could do that forever), I decided to interview some people with different perspectives: teens from other countries. I asked them about the pandemic, what they think of any goings-on in the United States, what’s going on in their countries, and what they think defines being a teenager.
After reading the six reports from teens in Europe and North America, one thing stands out: my generation is adaptable and resilient. Each country responded in its own way, but every teen expressed how much their privilege helped them in quarantine, whether it was privilege with school, money, or COVID safety.
What was school like in the pandemic? How did you deal with school? In the responses, I was most surprised at the normalcy of online school, and that most people, at least in this group, didn’t hate quarantine.
For example, Andrea (from Guatemala) writes, “It was boring and a bit stressful, but at the same time it was interesting to learn how to study from a distance. I’m still doing online school. It also has its advantages (not having to wake up early…).” From Spain, Becca explains, “Quarantine wasn’t too bad for me. I’m not very sociable, and I like working, so being locked up helped me learn to practice the cello for more hours, and I’m very glad that happened.”
Michael from Ireland adds, “My life during the pandemic was actually quite easy and it felt like normal after the first month…Our class was using Zoom in the morning at 9 o’clock and we would get our work on Google Classroom.” It’s interesting to see how everyone worked around new schedules and actually enjoyed some time locked up.
Another question about the pandemic, and then we’ll move on. What did you learn about yourself? I loved hearing responses to this question because it shows how Gen Z is resilient. For example, Diana from Spain says she learned to “organize my schedule and be calm.” Andrea added that she learned, “That I don’t need anybody to be happy. A global pandemic is not necessarily bad, if you have a positive attitude.” And my personal favorite from Erik in Sweden: “During the pandemic and online school I learned to observe and appreciate the smaller things in life such as taking a walk in the sun or having a good lunch.” We tend to talk about all the worst effects of the pandemic, and yes, there were horrible consequences. But, it is important to see how we all can grow from the challenges we face.
Finally, I asked what it is like to be a teenager in each country, and how these crucial years have been affected by everything going on in our world. Most said teenage years had a lot to do with spending time with friends, but some, based on age and which country they’re from, said that they are very different
Andrea says being a teen now versus a teen many years back, ” is like a completely different reality.” On being a teen in Guatemala: “It’s hard sometimes, especially being a woman. Sometimes you feel insecure but sometimes it’s really fun to hang out with your friends and enjoy your teenage years.” Becca in Spain says, “I don’t think I have been deprived from a normal teenager’s life. My environment is very similar to that Covidless.” Michael in Spain says, “I think my parents’ life was much simpler than ours because they didn’t use technology the way we might use it now and they also didn’t have social media which puts a lot of pressure on our generation to grow up quicker.” He also says that, “Being a teenager in Ireland is all about having the craic with your mates and excelling in sports and school.”
I didn’t know what to expect when I sent out emails to six friends across the globe, but now I am proud of my generation. Through the pandemic, and now a war, we are proving to be adaptable and resilient. Maybe that’s what being a teenager is: changing the world just by being ourselves, and overcoming new challenges – challenges in our everyday lives, and challenges across the world.