Responsible Youth

On August 12th, 2025, the world celebrated International Youth Day with the theme, “Local Youth Actions for SDGs and Beyond.” Here, SDGs stand for Sustainable Development Goals. With the aging population over 65 years of age reaching 830 million throughout the world in 2025, it seems the future belongs to the youth. Additionally, the number of the aged population is expected to nearly double to 1.7 billion by 2054. This could have serious implications as more and more people age and retire. It could mean a growing call for the young generations to step up, take the place of their elders, to rein in the responsibilities and take charge of the world.  

The present inhabitants of the world have inherited this beautiful earth from their ancestors and they will in turn be stewards for generations to come. In the cycle of birth and death, human beings have a limited time on earth. And this time is spent through various phases such as childhood, youth and old age. With the aging population rising, it now falls on the youth to shape the world, as the latter will be responsible for how the limited resources of the world are spent. From the choice of academics and career to the choice of life partner, the youth face a multitude of factors that will eventually shape their future. 

The youth of today will one day become elderly, whose place will then be taken by a new generation. However, there are those who argue that age is just a number. Today, the youth are increasingly delaying milestones such as marriage and raising a family. Instead, the focus is on personal growth and development. And with more and more adults returning to school to pursue their passion that they had to forgo in their youth, the elderly, too, are having their moment. From fitness trends to pursuing their passions, the elderly are defying their age to achieve the dreams of their youth, whether it is a college degree or working past retirement.

 It could be said that while the young generations are trying to find their place in the world, the aged population, too, is looking beyond their retirement to fulfill their dreams or to restart their lives, all the while fighting the adverse discrimination of ageism. The generation of youth makes the most of the global workplace but it is also the one that is largely unemployed. In comparison to the millennials, baby boomers are known to be more financially stable. As the job market tightens globally, an increasing number of youth are choosing to live with their parents to curb spending and save for a rainy day. 

It is a trend that is becoming very common. Further, it seems youth are becoming disillusioned with their lives, whether it is in education or career, as burnout has become common in the workplace, which continues to get quite competitive. Having said this, the fact is that youth are the future of the planet as they are the ones who will have to bear the decisions of the elderly while also paving the path for the next generations. This means that youth must be responsible in their actions, as it could determine the future of the world.