As I write this on the afternoon of May 2nd, I am reflecting upon the final “Come Friday Forum” of the 2024-2025 school year that was held today. The forum was on the topic “Is being a young person today harder than in the past?” The presentation and discussion were led by Dr. Jenne Powers, Director of the ARC, and Mary Morkunas ‘26.   

The presentation had a partial focus on the economy, education, tech, and developmental psychology—specifically Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. This posits how it is normal for adolescents to say, “why is it so hard for me?” and “no one understands me.” Those types of statements, we learned, are called egocentrism and personal fable.  

Morkunas also talked about the developments in educational practices. Public and private education has become more oriented towards individual students due to progress in the research of learning theory. She noted how education has become overall better for youth today. When the presentation was opened to audience participation, I found myself eagerly listening to the group’s diverse set of ideas. 

During the forum, what interested me the most were some of the comments made by students and adults in attendance. The issue of social media having a cascade of negative effects on young people was the most prominent topic that we kept returning to. Bullying, depression, anxiety, isolation, pressure, insecurity, and inadequacy all fall from the thing that “links us together” when we’re far apart.   

Social media clashed with the idea of increased societal expectations for one’s own future. The audience noted how the culture of incoming college freshmen can be a hostile one, with people planning their future based on what they think they are “supposed” to be doing. With everyone seeing your name and major posted on your high school’s graduation feed, you better have chosen something and somewhere good.   

I wonder how many students choose their majors based on what they think others want them to do, and how many people fall victim to the endless options we are faced with today.   

There are roughly 2,000 college majors that are generally offered in U.S colleges. Our very own Saint Anselm College offers at least 67 majors (and over 100 programs including minors), and the University of New Hampshire has over 200. Majors offered today are more specific compared to the broader and general fields of, say, the 1970s.   

With so many options and pressure from peers, parents, and strangers you see on social media, some students end up choosing their major to satisfy some sort of mental expectation for themselves. I’d also like to consider the cultural influences in this same vein. As a woman in college today, I am fortunate to not have any barriers on what careers/vocation I can choose from (Happy 51 years of Co-Education, Saint A’s!) However, endless options become a burden when combined with the cultural idea of having to pursue lofty career goals, climb the corporate ladder, be a “girlboss”, make good money, and choose a career that tests every aspect of your potential, stamina, and academic intelligence. In fact, when I was applying for college, I felt like I needed to pick a major on par with the likes of legal studies, biomedical engineering, or forensic science, because that’s what I saw my peers doing. I was confused by the sea of options and ignored my passion for teaching and working with children. After spending time reevaluating, I finally came to my senses to figure out what I am called to do. Which brings me to my next point.  

Discernment is the practice of reflection and prayer, in which someone may consider wholly every aspect of a decision, to find out God’s will for one’s own life. Young people today desperately need to practice discernment. There are too many choices to make because we live in a world with so much technological ease, freedom—simple individual liberties and those concerned with society, jobs, colleges, and friends–(another point that was mentioned at the Forum was social media being a launching pad for international friendships).  

In a world where we jump first, click first, and think later, I want to urge young people to consider the practice of discernment as a regular habit in their lives, so that they may seek to understand themselves and God just a little bit better.  

Happy Summer.