Generation Z Facing Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Generation Z is grappling with ongoing health issues linked to COVID-19, and society seems to be fostering this condition.
Five years into the pandemic, we see schools struggling with average performance as policies like test-optional admissions linger, grade inflation rises, and student skills decline. At the same time, diagnoses for learning disabilities and mental health issues are climbing steeply.
When will we stop coddling our teens in the name of a pandemic narrative?
Lockdown was undoubtedly tough on kids. But it feels like too many are being diagnosed with long-term anxiety and depression, or they’re told their academic struggles stem from these conditions rather than the circumstances they’ve faced. It all feels a bit disempowering.
In the UK, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has initiated a review as the demand for mental health services surges. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently noted that many young people are being labeled “too sick to work.”
In the West, kids are continually told something is fundamentally wrong. Their issues were, in many cases, temporary, and perhaps it was better to leave them be rather than masking their realities.
Rather than lifting expectations academically and socially, we’ve lowered the bar, leading to sustained underdevelopment.
A report from the University of California, San Diego highlighted that the number of incoming students lacking basic high school math skills has skyrocketed over the past five years. This isn’t really surprising, given that high schools seem to be faltering and colleges are still opting out of requiring SAT or ACT scores.
The report indicated that around 900 students—about 1 in 8—entered unable to meet the basic high school math standards, with an even worse situation for 1 in 12 who couldn’t perform at the junior high level.
“This situation is truly alarming,” the report concluded, calling for an immediate and systematic intervention.
This trend extends to prestigious institutions as well. Harvard University, America’s most selective university, announced it would introduce a remedial math course for incoming freshmen lacking essential skills starting in 2024.
This isn’t unexpected since Harvard had been the last elite institution to avoid reinstating standardized test requirements. However, as evidence mounts that these tests are significant predictors of success in college, it seems they’re reconsidering.
Yet there are still over 2,000 schools where testing is optional. Notably, in 2025, this will include top universities like Duke, Columbia, and Vanderbilt.
Why are we still treating teens as if we’re in the midst of a global crisis, denying them the testing opportunities that previous generations had? It sends a troubling message: “Yes, you can’t.”
We shouldn’t sugarcoat things for our kids by labeling them as having problems.
It’s time to stop implying they can’t move past the challenges imposed by lockdowns. Let’s avoid giving them lifelong mental health diagnoses that suggest their struggles will linger indefinitely.
Previous generations faced wars, diseases, and economic hardships—and they conquered them. Generation Z can rise to the occasion, too.
