Unhappy Children Part 2

Unhappy Children Part 2 : The Pressure from Society
What Does Society Demand from Our Children?

What do parents want for their children?

What does society demand from young people?

Parents often want their children to lead successful lives.
They push for high academic achievements, competitiveness,
and societal recognition.

Meanwhile, society demands highly skilled individuals—the so-called “best of the best”—and places emphasis on higher education.

Children, instead of enjoying the joy of learning,
are forced to study for better grades.

They work not to fulfill their dreams but to meet society’s expectations,
locking themselves in a cycle of endless stress and performance.

Are We Giving Children the Right Tools?

While parents claim to do their best for their children,
we should ask: What does “the best” truly mean?

Parents strive to provide the best education,
create ideal learning environments,
and ensure a life free of financial struggle.

However, in this relentless pursuit of comparison,
children rarely have the chance to discover what they truly love.

They are pushed to follow paths laid out by others,
struggling to meet societal definitions of success.

Dreams Lost in Competition

When asked,
“Why did you choose this major?”
or “Why did you pick this career?”
many students answer that their choices were based on grades or future job opportunities.
Few have the chance to pursue a genuine passion,
as the pressure to compete takes away the time and space to dream.

Amid this endless competition, are our children happy?

When was the last time we asked them what they enjoy,
what makes them happy,
or what they are thinking about?

The Missing Conversation

Have we forgotten to have meaningful conversations with our children?

Have we respected their thoughts and dreams?

Or have we dismissed their voices as naive,
pushing them to follow the paths society has mapped out?

The truth is,
many parents know their children aren’t happy.
Yet, they feel the need to prepare them for a competitive world,
thinking that’s the only way for them to survive.

This societal mindset not only ignores children’s individual happiness
but also perpetuates a system that prioritizes success over well-being.

What Are We Missing?

The happiness of our children is tied to the world we build for them.
By understanding the societal pressures they face,
we can start to create a healthier environment
where they can dream, thrive, and truly be happy.

In the next part,
we’ll explore how positive changes can begin—with parents leading the way.