THE PRESSURE TO “MAKE IT” BEFORE 30 IS DESTROYING YOUNG PEOPLE, BY FAITH OGBOTOR

There is a growing belief among young people that if you have not “made it” before the age of 30, you are already behind in life. Everywhere you turn, someone seems to be celebrating a new car, a new house, a thriving business, or another major achievement. While success is something everyone should strive for, I believe the pressure to achieve everything before a certain age is doing more harm than good.

From what I have personally observed, one of the biggest reasons for this pressure is comparison. Many young people compare themselves with their friends and even with complete strangers on social media. The truth is that some of the people we are trying so hard to be like are people we have never met. We only see the parts of their lives they choose to post online, yet we use those images to measure our own progress.

For me, there is a difference between making it and having made it. Making it simply means getting to a stage where you can comfortably meet your needs and enjoy some of your wants. It does not mean becoming the richest person in the room or having every luxury before the age of 30. Unfortunately, many people confuse success with showing off wealth.

The danger of constant comparison is that it makes people feel like failures even when they are making genuine progress. Some become depressed because they cannot afford the lifestyle they see on social media. Others begin to believe they are running out of time, and that pressure can push them towards shortcuts or dishonest ways of making money instead of trusting the process and building something meaningful.

Social media is not the only source of this pressure. Sometimes it comes from parents and relatives who constantly compare their children to other people’s children. Statements like, “Look at what your mate has achieved,” are common. I have heard parents say things like this, and I often find myself wondering what would happen if someone also compared those same parents with their own peers. Just as adults do not all reach the same level at the same time, young people should not be expected to achieve success on the same timeline.

Everyone needs to understand that people are different. We all have different backgrounds, opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges. Two people may graduate from the same university in the same year, yet their lives may take completely different paths. That does not mean one has failed and the other has succeeded. It simply means life does not move at the same pace for everyone.

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This does not mean young people should become comfortable with doing nothing. Hard work, discipline, and ambition still matter. We should continue to improve ourselves, develop valuable skills, and work towards our goals. However, we should not allow society’s expectations or social media trends to determine our self-worth. Some of the people putting pressure on others may not even have the kind of life they claim to have.

If I could speak to any young person who feels left behind, I would simply say this: everyone cannot have certain things at the same age. Keep working, keep learning, and keep growing, but do not let comparison steal your peace of mind. Your journey is different from someone else’s, and that is perfectly normal.

Success should not be measured only by age or by what people post online. It should be measured by growth, consistency, and the determination to keep moving forward despite challenges. Life is not a race, and there is no universal deadline for success. Instead of competing with strangers on the internet or trying to meet society’s timetable, let us focus on becoming better than we were yesterday. That, in my opinion, is what truly matters.

Ogbotor is a journalism and media studies student with a passion for opinion writing and social commentary. Her work explores youth development, education, relationships, and social issues affecting everyday Nigerians.

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