The opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Generation Z is called the most anxious generation, with 1 in 2 struggling with daily anxiety. This alarming trend stems from a multitude of factors, chief among them what some call “pressure schools,” which place considerable academic pressure on students. From the relentless pursuit of top grades to the race for amazing extracurricular programs and coveted places at prestigious universities, our young people feel an almost palpable sense of unease. According to the London School of Economics, this pressure is harmful to their well-being and is exacerbated by increased parental pressure.
As parents, it is our job to recognize and address the toll this takes on our children’s mental well-being before they reach adulthood. While we may dream of seeing our children excel academically and socially, it is equally important to equip them with the resilience and optimism needed to face the life challenges they will inevitably face in college and beyond.
As the director of admissions counseling at Quad Education, I have witnessed this college anxiety firsthand, which is why our mission goes beyond academic achievement. We prioritize the holistic well-being of our students, guiding them towards a healthy perspective of success and failure. With this in mind, here are three essential skills we believe are essential for today’s youth to thrive in college.
1. Accept failure and rejection
Anxiety often arises from the fear of failure, a formidable obstacle in the pursuit of personal growth. To thrive, our children must embrace rejection as a valuable part of their journey. Contrary to popular belief, failure is not a dead end but a stepping stone to resilience and success. It is essential to convince our kids that failure is not only normal but also essential to building strength and character.
I recently had a conversation with Erick Mueller, executive director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder. He emphasized the importance of hands-on learning and proactive problem solving in cultivating resilience and independence among today’s adolescents. Mueller urges a shift from fear of failure to an entrepreneurial mindset based on innovation and perseverance. His advice is refreshingly simple: encourage children to free themselves from the passive grip of technology and dive into the action. In an era where screens often hold more allure than real-world experiences, it is all too easy for our young people to remain spectators rather than active participants. By guiding students toward activities that stretch their limits, support their passion projects, and encourage them to take risks, we can enable them to see failure as a valuable teacher rather than a setback. What we need are courageous young people who move forward despite adversity, refusing to let setbacks define them.
Related: The Most Innovative Leaders Use These 3 Mental Models to Unlock Their Best Ideas
2. Separate academic achievement from self-esteem
When we talk about the impact of failure, it is critical to also address how students perceive their self-worth in relation to academic performance. It is widely believed that the value of a student depends exclusively on the grades or prestige of the universities that she attends or does not attend. This notion suggests that only those who secure a place in Ivy League institutions are intelligent, capable of success, and deserving of recognition. However, this belief couldn’t be further from the truth.
In recent years, we have seen a notable decline in college acceptance rates, with Ivy League schools accepting only 3% of their applicants. This doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of qualified candidates; there are simply no places.
While it is important to encourage academic excellence for intellectual growth and future opportunities, it is equally critical to remind our children that their value goes far beyond their academic achievements or the name of the college they attend. No single institution or achievement defines their identity. True success lies in embracing your individual talents, passions, and contributions to the world. It is these unique qualities that shape their identity and pave the way for achievement and impact.
Related: Young Americans don’t necessarily want to retire in Florida — and the 2 affordable states at the top of their list might surprise you
3. Disconnect from social media
Detachment from social media represents a significant challenge, especially for today’s youth, who are deeply consumed by it. This addiction to social media is undeniably contributing to the collective anxiety experienced by Gen Z. In our current reality, where fake news and carefully curated posts blur the lines between truth and fiction, teens often find themselves trapped in a cycle of comparison, where their self-esteem is measured by likes, followers and virtual validation.
This paradoxical relationship with social media has created a worrying sense of disconnection from others and from reality. As the endless stream of online personas consume them, they are simultaneously detached from authentic connections and meaningful experiences in the real world. We must enable them to break free from this curated online existence and rediscover the value of offline connections and authentic experiences.
Fostering a sense of self-worth that isn’t tied to online metrics can help them build resilience and confidence rooted in their intrinsic worth. To help them do this, we need to encourage them to seek balance in their relationship with social media, appreciating its benefits while also prioritizing authentic interactions and experiences beyond the screen. By guiding them towards a healthier approach to social media, we can help them regain control over their well-being and find satisfaction in the richness of real-life connections that have so much more to offer.
Related: 8 Ways to Minimize Screen Time and Maximize Family Time
Final thoughts
As our youth face growing anxiety, it’s time to face the harsh realities of academic pressure and social media saturation. Let us equip our youth with resilience, remind them of their intrinsic value, and guide them towards meaningful connections that transcend the digital realm. It is a call to action for a generation that needs genuine human connection and inner perseverance and we as parents must strive to lead this transformation.