Can we still  ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ in today’s economy?

Being in your 20s feels like you’re expected to have everything figured out, especially as a university student, where the pressure to choose a career path, network, and plan your future is overwhelming. The weight of these difficult choices feels exhausting, and the anxiety of not knowing if you’re on the right track is daunting.

Growing up, aging felt like a video game. Each year unlocked a new level, with special skills and new powers, like staying home alone at 13, getting Instagram at 15, being an adult at 18 and finally, at 20, life would be perfect — I could finally do whatever I wanted. Right? 

That’s why birthdays were so special to me. Blowing out those candles felt like the end credits of a level, rolling the film for something more exciting. As I got older though, they just reminded me of what I was yet to accomplish, leaving the nagging feeling that I was falling behind in life.

The crushing weight of expectations has made me feel stuck as if I’m standing still and watching my life unfold from the sidelines. I want to move forward, to put in the effort and chase my goals, but I feel trapped in an endless loop of wishing and wanting, but never taking the steps to make things happen. 

Perhaps life was easier during my parent’s generation. They grew up in a time when education, jobs, and even retirement seemed more attainable, something that now feels out of reach. In today’s economy, it’s harder to pay for tuition, difficult to find a job that offers security, and challenging to hold on to the dreams of a simple, stable future.

This isn’t to say that we should stop dreaming. But maybe, in the face of these overwhelming pressures, we also need to be kinder to ourselves, allowing space for mistakes, room for growth, and the understanding that things may not go as planned. The number of people in their 20s struggling with depression and anxiety has increased in recent years, largely because of the pressures to succeed — society’s expectations of achieving the ‘perfect life’, coupled with anxiety about responsibilities we face, and concerns about food, jobs and housing.

This leads me to question the ideal of a perfect life that we’re all told to strive for. If life is only about reaching some end goal, what happens to the moments in between? Are we so focused on the outcome that we miss the joys, friendships, growth and learning that come from the journey itself?

With every dream being capitalized on and inflation raising the cost of living, even basic things like getting an education have become more difficult. It feels like the world has put a price tag on everything — even our dreams. 

Being in your 20s feels like you’re still a teenager, but everyone expects you to behave like an adult. You’re stuck in this space where you’re supposed to have it all together, but you still feel like a kid trying to navigate the world, pretending to know what you’re doing. 

The crushing reality of having to survive on my own keeps me up at night. As an international student, the weight of needing to succeed feels heavy on my chest.  Living can sometimes feel like a chore, where the basic act of surviving, such as preparing meals, paying bills, and meeting deadlines, become overwhelming tasks. On days like that, making a name out of myself feels like a faded dream, a distant memory I can barely hold on to. 

How am I supposed to build the skills I need for the job market when I can barely remember to cook my dinner?  How do I network and pitch myself to companies when I freeze up talking to barely speak to the cashier at the store? 

With today’s economy, having an education no longer guarantees landing a job. I wonder constantly if I am choosing the right career path, especially because new reports about ‘dying jobs’ come out every few years. It feels like a gamble these days, sending in a job application is like buying a raffle ticket and praying you win. Your prize? An entry-level position that expects you to have 5+ years of experience.

Despite all the uncertainty, I still believe we need to dream. But it’s important to dissect why we want to achieve them. What lessons do we hope to learn along the way? Who do we want to meet, and what kind of person do we want to become? When we reflect on these questions, we realize that there is no single path to achieving our dreams. Sometimes your reality — imperfections and all, might be good enough for now. 

Beating yourself up for things not turning exactly the way you want is useless.  What matters is making the most of the situation you find yourself in, even when it’s tough. It is easier said than done, but using the resources around you,  leaning on others, and trying to live fully in the moment can make a difference. This is the time to truly live and to experience.

Your 20s might suck less if you accept them for what they are. Everyone’s journey is different, and that’s why we need to build a community where we can access and offer support. Let’s not be afraid to discuss the challenges we face. Talking about our problems can bring clarity, strengthen our resolve, and bond over shared pains.

Finally, I want to take a moment to appreciate you for the work you’re putting in. Sure, it might not always feel like a lot, but remember—growth, no matter how small, is still progress. Take a second to be proud of yourself. 
I’m proud of every single one of the students at USask, especially those who feel like they’re drowning in the pressure because I know how far they’ve come. Even if you’re not 20 yet, the struggle is still the same, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. So here’s a reminder to live, laugh, and love—because no one else is going to do it for you. (Source: random millennial pillowcase at Walmart.)