Are students optimistic about their futures?
Download the Huddle Discussion Questions to have real conversations about this trending news story and more!
Young people are sometimes seen as having a bleak worldview. After the uncertainty of the past couple of years, who can blame them?
A new survey by the nonprofit running the ACT college entrance exam shows the opposite to be true. Even amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, social media phenomena like cancel culture, and the continued rise of mental health issues among students, 80% of them said they feel high levels of optimism that their lives will turn out well.
What are students optimistic about?
ACT CEO Janet Godwin said, “The study revealed that today’s students believe they will achieve the outcomes that define a successful life.”
According to the study, nearly 55% of students said they were as optimistic about positive future outcomes in life and work now as they were before the pandemic.
Of all the racial and ethnic groups, Black students are the most optimistic. They believe they will find a career that pays well, a career they enjoy, steady employment, live where they want, hobbies they enjoy, financial resources to retire comfortably, a better life than their parents had, a better life for their own children than they had, and a life that turns out well overall – more so than students of other races and ethnicities.
TSI’s take on why students are optimistic?
Social media can be seen as a scapegoat for the rise in mental health issues among students. However, perhaps social media is one of the reasons students are more optimistic about their futures despite the things they’ve faced in their young lives. Growing up in a time of isolation, nearly two-thirds of teens have made a friend online and 83% say that social media makes them feel more connected to their friends.
Not only does online interaction have positive effects on combating loneliness, but it also opens new doors for students as they navigate their passions and follow their dreams.
Social media helped climate activist, Greta Thunberg, spread her message about reducing greenhouse gas emissions when her speech on climate change went viral at the age of 15.
Social media gave dancers @cost_n_mayor a platform to escape the hustle of New York City and begin working as choreographers for social media campaigns for brands like GrubHub, Panera Bread, and Cheetos.
Social media even helped our founder and CEO, Laura Tierney, land her first job by connecting with mentors on LinkedIn who she would never have met otherwise.
While scary headlines are pushed through the Apple News app on a regular basis, we can also celebrate the fact that people are chasing their dreams and reaching their goals every day. By encouraging students to use social media and technology as powerful tools in positive ways, we can encourage our students to continue to be optimistic about their futures.
Download the Huddle Discussion Questions to have real conversations about this trending news story and more!
If you want to learn more about how The Social Institute can empower your students to use social media and technology to pursue their passions, contact us today for a personalized demo.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.