Angst, the Social Norm of Canadian Youth

In 2011, 528 youths fell victim to suicide in Canada. Some of these horrible tragedies were likely due to the awful sensation of angst. According to Dictionary.com, angst is defined as a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish. People often wonder if angst is a necessary evil when it comes to growing up. Without angst, could there even be a coming of age process? The two seem to go hand in hand.

You see, the coming of age process occurs when a youth begins to question their place in society. With all of the life options available in Canada, who wouldn't feel anxious about the nearly impossible task of finding your place in society? Angst is inevitable during the coming of age process for many reasons, but specifically because youth begin to realize that they must choose their path in life, a very hard decision to make. Being unsure about the future is the main cause of most anxiety. That, combined with the lack of wisdom most youth have, is a sure fire way to overwhelm one’s self with intense angst. With all the inequality in the world, how is one supposed to be sure that they will reach their life’s purpose? This uncertainty causes much anxiety in our youth.

Perhaps this anxiety is a symptom of the western way of life. In other societies, such as that of the Bushman of the Kalahari Desert, there are no specialized fields. Everyone is taught how to cook, hunt/gather, care for each other, medicinal properties of plants, etc. This alleviates some anxiety about one’s future because their path is already laid out in front of them. Because there is no gray area for a full on self-discovery experience, the youth are some of the most content in the world. They are often laughing, playing, and expressing themselves, rather than worrying about who they are and where they fit in to their community.

Source: http://atlantablackstar.com/

By giving youth such a vast selection of possible careers, we are inevitably causing a great discomfort. How is one supposed to know at 17 that they want to be a doctor, a psychologist, a writer, etc.? I believe that by forcing youth to decide their career paths at such a young age, our western system causes an excess amount of anxiety, and therefore angst. I struggled, and still do, with what career path I want to take. This subject has caused much dread in my life because I do not have the self-wisdom to know what I really, truly want from life (which is completely normal for someone my age.)

If forcing youth to pick a life path causes so much angst during their maturation, why is this the social norm in Canada? Perhaps an educational reform is needed so that youth can try out different fields before making any rash decisions about life’s journey. This is not a ridiculous concept, as there are several countries who have already implemented similar systems. Sweden, for example, has instigated several new aspects into their school system. One new reform focuses on introducing new technologies to young students in order for them to have a vaster knowledge of what lies ahead, in the real world.

Though angst is most certainly a part of the coming age experience, I can’t help but wonder if the coming of age experience is not what’s best for our society. Maybe once our educational system changes and begins focusing on teaching students vaster knowledge, Canada’s youth suicide rates will decrease. It’s up to us to demand a change from our government. It’s up to us to re-create the coming of age experience and it's up to us to revolutionize it into a happier journey, where angst is not needed. It starts with you.