90’s kid, not kids anymore

Most people born in 1990 and years following are either going to hit the big 30's this year, or will have to wait a few years into the current decade. As the bell of the 30's ring around the "90's kids", one cannot help but wonder what lies ahead for them in this transitional phase of life. 

Even though this phase of life is somewhat considered a middle ground for a lot, in reality, there isn't one. It's either highs or lows. While some are graduating and looking for jobs, others are getting married and having children. 

Some are jotting notes for IELTS while others are jotting down notes of groceries. Stuck in a transition from young adult to adult, the "90's kids" are pressured to either make it or break it. 

Conversations changed from what assignment do we have to what are we supposed to do now?

From school to college to university, and then to jobs and marriage, we keep climbing, never to take a break. Instead of taking time to figure out what we want, we are forced to live an automated life. 

Haruki Murakami once said, "You are 27 or 28 right? It is very tough to live at that age. When nothing is sure. I have sympathy for you." 

This stage of life is indeed very tough to live.  A lot break down when they have to take on responsibilities that comes with this age, because they were never prepared for it. So when they fail, it hurts their self-esteem and makes them afraid of trying again.

Unfortunately, our society does not make this any easier. Our education system prioritises theoretical knowledge more than practical experience. 

Instead of teaching us how to pay taxes, make sensible decisions to save money, and other essential skills one might need to enter adulthood, we are bombarded with knowledge that most do not even use in their day-to-day life. 

Thanks to the worldwide web and easy access to information nowadays, most of us learn these things from the internet. 

Asking your superiors also does not help as it is always met with criticism such as, "you are 25-years-old and you do not even know the procedure of paying taxes? What did you learn all this time?"

There isn't anyone to blame. All kids need to become an adult at one point in their lives. But what truly matters is what kind of an adult they turn out to be. 

Should one be an adult whose sole duty is to live up to their parents, society's expectation, or an adult who is empathetic, aware, and doesn't live just for the sake of living. 

Because at the end of the day, the torches that are being passed on to us will be passed on to the next generation as well. 

Now, it is our responsibility to set an example, because the 90's kids are not kids anymore.