Let’s celebrate! Today is all about recognizing the incredible potential of youth around the world—it’s International Youth Day! What a fantastic day to be young!
But being young isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, is it? Today is not only a day for celebration but also for reflection. International Youth Day highlights the importance of addressing the challenges that come with being an adolescent and navigating our early twenties. Let’s be honest, being a teen is one of the most beautiful yet chaotic stages of our lives. We undergo so much change and growth during these years!
The interests we had at 14 often shaded, close friends may become mere acquaintances, and the pressure to portray perfection on social media can feel overwhelming. Not to mention, who decided we should choose a major at 18 when we’re still figuring out who we are? That’s something I’d like to question!
As you can imagine—and probably have experienced—, these are just some of the hurdles we face. Many other serious issues can also arise. For instance, mental health struggles like anxiety and depression are common, often worsened by academic pressures and social expectations. Among the various challenges faced, however, there are two that I particularly want to address because of their impact on several other areas of our lives: self-acceptance and comparison. I know these are struggles that don’t just fade away after our teenage years—they are issues we deal with throughout our lives. This is precisely why it’s important to address some ways in which we can deal with them. Here, I will share with you what has worked for me.
As if self-acceptance wasn’t already hard to conquer, these modern and technological times have made it even harder to do so. In today’s world, social media makes it all too easy to fall into the trap of comparison. We’re constantly seeing curated versions of other people’s lives, which makes it harder to accept ourselves fully with all the good and “bad” aspects.
It’s quite easy to feel like we don’t measure up, especially when everyone else seems to be living perfect lives. For teenagers, the issue could be found on Instagram; for those in their early twenties, even LinkedIn can become a pressure point. So, what can we do about this?
First, let’s remember what we already know in theory: social media presents a polished version of people, not the full picture. Everybody has their own struggles and imperfections, even if they’re not visible online. Who wants to post themselves crying at the library at 3 a.m.? Nobody. Oh, but the academic honor roll list is posted, for sure. But that’s okay! We’re not obligated to show our vulnerability on social media. However, we should recognize that others aren’t being 100% sincere either.
A quite helpful tip that’s worked wonders for me is to try replacing the habit of checking social media with a different habit. Sounds easy in theory, right? Well, we cannot just cut a habit, but we can surely replace it with a healthier one (consider reading the book Atomic Habits, it’s awesome!). Instead of scrolling through Instagram reels, engage in activities that make you feel good about yourself and help build your self-worth from within. For me, this involves listening to “aesthetic” playlists while writing or biking. What do you enjoy doing? Do more of that!
Secondly, practice self-compassion. As cliché as it may sound, recognizing that it’s okay to have flaws and make mistakes is very helpful. Instead of thinking ‘Why don’t I have that skill?’, try reframing it as ‘How can I improve my own skills to achieve something similar?’ This is about turning feelings of envy into admiration and motivation! And it feels quite good to embrace such positivity!
Finally, remember that self-acceptance is a journey, not a destination. As I mentioned before, self-acceptance struggles may persist even in adulthood, and it takes time and effort to build a positive self-image. I am still working on these challenges, but emotionally, I am not where I used to be at 14. Be patient with yourself! Your value isn’t determined by likes, followers, your CV, or external validation—it’s defined by who you are and how you see yourself.
As we celebrate (and reflect on) International Youth Day, let’s not only recognize the incredible potential of young people, but also commit to supporting each other in overcoming the challenges we face. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help, and don’t hesitate to offer help to others!
You are great, and you are doing more than fine. Happy International Youth Day —you deserve all the good in life!