In the hum of political chatter at parties, family gatherings, and in campus corridors, a mix of despair and quiet apathy kept surfacing. It’s not from a lack of interest, but rather from a feeling of futility.
Last week, when these conversations were most prominent, a friend swung by to catch up. Eventually, our conversation inevitably shifted to politics. I spiraled down into potential scenarios of what political climate changes could mean for my country’s politics, my position as an international student, and human rights in general.
My friend seemed calm and almost unbothered, not just about the US elections or Dutch government change, but about politics in general. His conclusion to my rant was: ‘There is not much that you or I can do, therefore, why bother?’
Feeling overall disappointed, his approach seemed almost reasonable: not wasting my energy, time, and even life on something I have little to no influence on. ‘Do your thing, adjust accordingly, go with the flow’, he said. ‘Your sadness, anger, or frustration won’t change much.’
Later, however, this sentiment felt more harmful to my ideas of freedom and peace and me as a young person with hopes and dreams. Closing my eyes started to seem like succumbing to any disagreeable change without any fight, internal or external. It felt like I was giving up.
If we, the next generation, stop caring, we might wake up one day older, more tired, and even less able to influence the world around us
Trying to seek reassurance that we can change things and that eventually everything will be fine, I talked to other young people. But surprisingly, even those with never-ending optimism or ‘youthful maximalists’ sounded more and more like they were giving up. ‘I will focus on my goals, and then just hope the world is still standing by the time I reach them’, someone said.
Is it just a phase or a new trend?
Students have always been a crucial component, if not the catalyst, of any change throughout history, from civil rights movements to climate change activism. So how come now, even if we care, we are left feeling that our voices don’t matter and will not be heard?
Could it be the Covid-19 pandemic that left us depressed and detached from reality? Or perhaps it is technology that sometimes can be more individualizing than that it creates communities? Or is it the university that applies stricter rules for expressing a protest to changes?
Frankly, I do not know. But the reality is that some of us young people feel much less in charge of our future, leading to apathy. If we, the next generation, stop caring, we might wake up one day older, more tired, and even less able to influence the world around us.
Not everyone has to attend protests or become activists, but we can each take small steps—whether it’s challenging apathy in party conversations, promoting positive changes in our social circles, or simply passionately caring about the issues.
Perhaps, instead of ‘going with the flow,’ we should aim to redirect it, just a little. You and I should bother because we might change things. The privilege and prerogative of “youthful maximalism” is ours, and it’s worth embracing.
LIZA KOLOMIIETS