Vanessa Woolley Silver lining for game generation

Here we are in lockdown again and with winter sweeping in it’s hard not to feel a little out of sorts.

I have great admiration for the older generations, to those who are shielding, remaining stoic, calmly waiting for their vaccinations.

And of course, huge respect for those on the frontline, dealing with such extreme and often sad situations.

However, the group I worry about the most are the younger generations.

The teenagers whose schooling has been greatly impacted and the university students, paying for expensive accommodation while mostly languishing in their bedrooms, their lives shrunk down to a small screen.

The employment prospects for those just finishing school or university is very bleak.

And for those who have been lucky enough to get jobs, their introduction to employment has been all online, no real face-to-face learning.

But there is a potential silver lining for this young COVID generation.

There are some researchers who believe that the young people living under lockdown measures today will benefit in the longer term, that it may make them stronger and more resilient.

I am tempted to agree with that. My parents were teenagers during the Second World War and lived through rationing etc.

And it made them strong and determined.

I, on the other hand, grew up in a much easier time.

Resilience is very important, but sadly it often means you need to go through something traumatic in order to come out the other side.

Here’s hoping this young COVID generation make it out safely.