I am so glad it is May.
Although nothing concrete actually happens when one month expires and another begins, I am sure we are all happy to put April 2020 behind us. There was a definite shift in the news this morning too. Plans for re-opening are being revealed across the country. Like daffodils and tulips in the spring, Canadians are starting to emerge from our winter homes in search of the sun and each other. Like you, I can hardly wait.
Before we all left for the March Break, seven weeks ago, Reverend Curry cautioned us all to “be careful, not fearful”. His words preceded any state of emergency declaration in Canada, and were spoken when our airports were still busy with business travellers and families on vacation. Time has passed and our “fear of the other” has risen. While I have no doubt that we will all be much, much better at washing our hands in the years to come, I worry that social and physical distancing has created a climate of distrust and fear. Will we ever shake hands when greeting strangers again? Will we ever be comfortable packing into a movie theatre and sharing our popcorn with those beside us? Will we be comfortable using cash for purchases or holding doors open for people to pass through before us?
I don’t think we fully understand how this time has unsettled our youth. Generation Z (born after 1997) has a ton going for it. True “digital natives” they have never known a time without the internet and laptops and mobile phones. They are adept at finding the truth from multiple sources of information and are highly connected, entrepreneurial, and embrace change and individuality. In fact, a defining characteristic is embracing diversity as normal, not threatening. Perhaps above all, Generation Z craves human connection and seeks a voice. On the flip side, from diabetes to depression, Generation Z battles with unprecedented physical and mental health issues. Staying home and away from friends, being inactive, dealing with an “invisible enemy”, is not helping.
While it may seem that this generation is the best equipped to deal with distance learning and being “shut in”, recent surveys are showing that they don’t like it. It is affecting attitudes towards universities as well as primary and secondary school. Simply put: School without friends, or clubs, or sports is not just less fun, it loses its meaning. A recent survey across North America is showing a decrease in university aspirations amongst the Class of 2020 by as much as 20%. As many as 26% of university students are saying that they won’t return in the fall if their university opens. This number is increasing, and may be even higher as we approach summer. Gap years are the hot trend right now.
I worry that this pandemic has the potential to inject fear where there once was confidence and companionship. The changes are both large and subtle. From worrying about the environment to worrying about human contact, the shifts in our society have been rapid. In February we avoided plastic bags and single use plastics. In April we brought them back and embraced their use. I don’t think we can pretend to ignore the impact of our messaging. Saying that liquor stores are an essential service is not lost on our youth.
