Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
“What do you know about life? You’re only 23.”
To call that sentence untrue is invalid. Sure, I might not know the full length of it, and perhaps that’s the beauty of being young, but, dear God, am I exhausted from not knowing.
I don’t know what kind of future lies ahead of us, amid looming wars and an imminent climate disaster. I don’t even know if I’ll ever find a full-time job, much less build a career.
So when I was asked if I’ve given thought to planning for the future, the answer was easy: I don’t know.
“You won’t work forever, no? You’ll have to retire and take care of your family one day.”
Will I, though?
Growing up, I never quite had the conventional dream of building a family or settling down. I was always taught, mostly by my own independence, to dream of my own ambitions. Perhaps my perception of how life works was limited; I couldn’t see the appeal of not being eager for my own dreams.
Read also: Sal Priadi is in the Mood for Love
Saving for a marriage and home was never in the picture anyway; or so I thought until recently.
After finishing my degree, I was blessed to already be in an internship. Unfortunately, the aftereffects of the pandemic still trickled down to the career path I’d be having. Media was down, and I had no clue where to take myself.
Building genuine connections was also a challenge. After being stuck with university for over half the course of my degree, socializing offline again as a new adult felt strange. It was a whole new world again, and I wasn’t sure if it was my shot at starting fresh or a curse to mildly suck at it.
They all sound like non-issues when I try to seek advice from other adults who have been adults longer than I have.
“I understand, job seeking is hard for fresh graduates,” and a lot of “it’s OK, you’ll figure it out,” are not exactly the most assuring words, to be honest. I know I will, but even if I figure it out in the world we live in today, will there still be a world where possibilities are as endless as university marketing campaigns tell us?
How do we even envision a life far ahead without a stable reality to grab onto?
Finding a job during an era of decline is already hard enough; so many young people doubt if they’ll even get into building a career.
By now, much has been discussed about the work habits of Gen Zers. Some say they’re lazy, but I think it’s more they’re unwilling to tolerate unfair treatment. To generalize such a diverse generation is not unrealistic, but I digress.
As of May 2024, over 20% of Gen Z (born after 1997) aged 15-24 were unemployed.
I asked a few friends how they envision their future and retirement.
Some have parents over 50 who are still working, and most consider prioritizing their parents' needs as well. They worry mostly about the decline of their health and understand they can’t rely on their wealth forever.
“I think I’d like to live abroad. I want to get a master’s degree and settle down after, wherever that may be,” one friend said.
“I’d actually like to stay in a retirement home. However, it needs to be fun,” another friend said. “Like, I want there to be parties and stuff.”
“I started saving up about 5 years ago right before the pandemic. I actively save in several accounts,” still another friend said. “But, realistically, I don’t think I’ll ever retire.”
Read also: Betawi fashion: Portraying the melting pot of Java
Watching many of my peers plan their future is thrilling. But it worries me to feel like I’m behind. It’s underlined by sheer envy, but mostly fear.
How am I supposed to look toward a future in a world so uncertain?
Aside from possibly not being able to build a career, I don’t know if it’s optimistic or dumb to think of affording a house for building the home life I desire.
I tried discussing my concerns with my mother. After all, what am I if not a guilt-ridden second child. She kindly explained to me how many adults, decades after being twenty-something, were still struggling to find their footing. Some plan as they like, but life didn’t always go their way.
Whether it's the economy suddenly slumping again, getting fired or having to spend more than expected, life just happens. There are many times when people plan for their retirement in advance yet still life slips away, and one day they realize they’d been spending more than they could afford.
Finding balance in emotional fulfillment can often lead to greed, but what marks the threshold of wisdom or selfishness? Is wanting to retire wise or selfish?
When I asked my friends, I found that a lot of them wanted to slow down in life, despite their already negative outlook on it. But most of them told me they didn’t think that’ll be the case, and that they’re already determined to work…. until death.
Read also: Streets that are made for walking: A vision of sustainable transportation in Jakarta
This article is part of The Weekender, which comes out on the Saturday edition of The Jakarta Post. It offers a variety of lifestyle and culture articles aimed at enriching your reading experience. Subscribe here to get access to the Saturday edition and all other premium content from the Post.
