The People of Tomorrow

   What is Angst? A feeling of anxiety or dread, a constant worry, many feelings that can of course be related to the coming of age process. Coming of age is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood. For many of us this period is filled with many life-changing experiences that shape us into becoming the people of tomorrow. As teenagers, it is safe to say that the future is in our hands and this does not come without stress and anxiety and therefore, angst. As we get older we are expected to work harder and fight for everything we want in life. A recent article in USAToday shows us that a high 27% of teenagers feel “extremely stressed” during the school year. As a science student myself, I can honestly say I experience mild stress everyday because of school. For those of us who are ambitious and have a set goal in life, coming of age comes along with many hardships that we must overcome.

 

  Is angst a defining feature amongst teenagers? Yes. Can we overcome this worrisome feeling? Absolutely.

  We must learn to channel our inner angst in something powerful. We must have the willpower to succeed in life by working extremely hard everyday of our existence until we finally reach our goals. Dr. Hans Selye an Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist once said, “adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” I absolutely agree with Selye, in fact I probably do this everyday.

  Apart from school, there are many other things that stresses teens out such as family expectations, having a boyfriend/girlfriend, time management and many more things. Thankfully enough, stress and anxiety are not so hard to deal with after all. In my resistance training class last semester we had a section on stress coping skills. The four main things that have to be done in order to overcome daily stress is to identify the sources of stress in your life, learn how to cope with your type of stress, adopt a healthier lifestyle and expect a positive outcome. Although teenage angst is a feeling that most teens will experience while growing up, it is not a permanent feeling. I believe that with angst comes relief and a peace of mind.  

  

  Angst is very much a part of the coming-of-age process and although our generation has challenges that previous generations did not have, we also have opportunities and resources that previous generations we're not offered. Sometimes, all we need is a little change of perspective; we need to focus on what we really want and who we really are. Most importantly, we must always have a positive outlook on life. The future is ours to conquer.