Life has always demanded resilience, but for young people today, the demands seem insurmountable. They are diligently putting in the work, yet the payoff is constant financial stress and a looming uncertainty about tomorrow, leading many to question the value of their efforts. The difficulties faced by young people are not due to personal failings like laziness or a lack of drive. Instead, they are the product of surrounding systems that are fundamentally failing them. Increased unemployment, prohibitive costs of living, overwhelming mental health burdens, and a deficit of reliable guidance have collectively rendered life significantly harder for this generation.
1. Unemployment and Lack of Opportunities
Unemployment is a critical driver of the current youth struggle. After years of hard work in education—from senior high school through to university—young people are finding that jobs are simply not there. This mismatch is stark in places like Ghana, where the annual flood of thousands of new graduates far exceeds the system's capacity to create meaningful employment.
This situation breeds profound frustration and disappointment. Imagine the crushing reality of studying diligently, sacrificing years of time and energy, only to be met with joblessness. Furthermore, even the available positions often demand years of experience that recent graduates lack, or they offer wages too low to cover basic living expenses. Consequently, many young people find themselves either unemployed or trapped in underemployment, forced to take work far below their skill level simply to survive.
2. High Cost of Living
While income opportunities remain scarce, the cost of living continues its relentless ascent. Food, transportation, rent, and basic necessities are all becoming increasingly expensive. For young people attempting to establish independence, this economic reality presents a formidable barrier. Many are compelled to live with their parents far longer than intended, not out of comfort, but because they simply cannot afford to secure their own housing. Others face a daily struggle to juggle the costs of transport, food, data, and small personal needs on severely limited incomes. This intense financial pressure generates constant stress, shifting the focus of young people from dreaming of success to worrying about mere survival.
3. Pressure to Succeed and Comparison
Social media has introduced a significant new dimension of difficulty into the lives of young people. Daily exposure to posts showcasing success, luxury, travel, and achievements creates an environment of constant comparison. While some of these narratives are genuine, many are exaggerated or selectively presented. Regardless, the outcome is the same: young people inevitably begin to measure their own lives against these curated online portrayals.
This comparison fuels immense pressure and self-doubt. A young person is often left asking:
"Why am I not there yet?"
"What am I doing wrong?" or
"Am I a failure?"
The reality is that every individual's journey is unique, yet social media rarely reveals the struggles or the time investment required for success. This relentless cycle of comparison severely damages self-esteem and mental well-being.
4. Mental Health Struggles
The cumulative weight of economic hardship, job insecurity, and relentless social comparison has fueled a significant mental health crisis among young people. They are navigating unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout, often feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed in an unforgiving system. This emotional burden is compounded by the fact that accessible and affordable mental health resources are often scarce, leaving many to cope with profound stress and emotional turmoil without adequate support.
5. Lack of Guidance and Mentorship
A significant challenge contributing to the difficulty of modern youth life is the absence of proper guidance and mentorship. Many young people lack mentors who can effectively navigate them through critical decisions regarding careers, personal finance, and life choices. Educational institutions frequently prioritize exam performance over imparting essential practical skills such as money management, entrepreneurship, or emotional intelligence. Consequently, young people are often left to navigate complex life decisions entirely on their own. This results in costly mistakes, difficult learning curves, and a pervasive feeling of being lost. Their struggle is not a reflection of their incapability, but rather a profound lack of support.
6. Family and Societal Expectations
In many cultures, young people bear the heavy weight of family expectations. They are often expected to achieve success rapidly, financially support relatives, and ultimately "make the family proud." While these demands are frequently rooted in love, they can become overwhelmingly burdensome. When a young person is struggling, this pressure often translates into a feeling of disappointing everyone. This emotional burden significantly amplifies the stress they already face, making failure feel unacceptable, even though setbacks are a natural and necessary component of personal growth.