The introduction of the K-12 Program is far from perfect. After finishing elementary, graduates of class of 2022 faced a brand-new junior high school curriculum, marking their journey as the batch where the new educational system is being tested; Afterwards, the then controversial senior high school program, where the curriculum is scattered and unpolished, was first experienced by the same batch. And now, after graduating from college, they are faced by the economic decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Describing the journey of the said batch as a “rough road” would be an understatement, but finishing it will only serve as the starting line. 

The value of Philippine peso is in a stable decline, it already fell to an all-time-low of P58: $1. In addition to it, rising prices of basic supply due to the dependence of our country through imports is starting to affect the masses and the increased gas prices are hurting the regular commuters. 

With these conditions, the youth and incoming young professionals will start their careers in a rough battlefield where finding jobs will be a great challenge and continuous increase in the cost of living will be a great dilemma. Obviously, the combination of unemployment and high cost of living is a recipe for disaster, a disaster that must be faced head on by our young ones. 

Based on World Health Organization (WHO) data this March, an alarming increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression rating as high as 25 percent was reported among young people during the first year of the pandemic. 

This occurrence was expected to grow with the sudden changes to address the global health concern, but a staggering 25 percent may be considered unnatural. It may be caused by the restrictions where public gatherings were limited, forcing people to stay indoors, and stripping them of their own routines. 

With these restrictions and conditions set by covid, people, especially the youth were deprived of two years of valuable time to develop their social skills and growth promoted by the environment. Because of this, their right to experience quality education was cut when they were left to take classes online, interacting with people their age face-to-face was also prohibited, and for the older spectrum of the youth; being competent in their future jobs began to be a rising concern since the proper training served in college was unavailable in an online setting. 

Following these examples, the youth was left no choice but to power through it. We were just unlucky enough that the covid pandemic struck in the most critical years when our growth was being developed. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ravince T. Cervantes is a Public Relations Writing intern at PageOne Media under Politico.ph. He is a senior student taking Advertising and Public Relations at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where he was trained to write for campaigns both traditional and IMCs. A trained copywriter from elementary to college, he is passionate in covering sports media and an aspiring professional in the advertising industry.