The effects of COVID-19 have been cataclysmic across society. Nobody has been left untouched. For those among us still with jobs and nobody sick, it’s bonus territory. For others, we try to help. At the beginning of the pandemic, I said this virus didn’t differentiate between rich and poor. I was wrong.

There’s enough evidence to indicate that the less well-off have been disproportionately negatively affected. That is the case right across the world. Personally, I think the group forgotten in all of this is what’s known as Generation Z and their successors, (early) Generation Alpha. I’m talking about teenagers.

’Teenager’ has almost become a colloquialism for ’trouble’ in the eyes of some. And I think it’s grossly unfair

I don’t wish to exclude others, such as young workers with no work. And this isn’t an either/or debate or a competition about who’s worse off. I just feel that those youngsters between the ages of 14 and 18, in particular, have been silent sufferers over the past six months and should have a voice too.

“Teenager” has almost become a colloquialism for “trouble” in the eyes of some. And I think it’s grossly unfair. I say so as a parent of an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old.

At this exciting stage in life, every year is a mini-life in itself

We all remember being teenagers – particularly when we were 14,15,16,17 and 18. At this exciting stage in life, every year is a mini-life in itself. And, in particular, each summer brings a maiden adventure or a new discovery spanning across our social lives, relationships, sexual development and in our cultural and sporting interests specific to each year. What you do aged 14 is better at 14, not 15, and so on.

Lost rites

But this summer has been lost to teenagers, rather than put back twelve months. At my age, every year is pretty indistinguishable from the last. Some things can be put off, but when you’re a teenager, many things can’t. There are many mini “rites of passage” crammed into those few precious teenage summers.

Leaving Cert students have missed out on something unique. Even a repeat next year is not the same. You can’t play under-14 Féile hurling aged 15. And you’ve only one shot at an 18th birthday bash. First world problem, yes! But also at a practical level, losing out on summer work means no money in a house where it counts.

COVID-19 teenagers are also absorbing the stressful home atmosphere of job worries and income cuts

I can see you rolling your eyes. “Oh, God help them. When I was their age, I’d nothing.” If that attitude applied to everything, “Oh God” is right! If I’d nothing as a teenager, it wouldn’t mean I’d wish the same unhappiness on others. My point isn’t about entitlement.

COVID-19 teenagers are also absorbing the stressful home atmosphere of job worries and income cuts, which their parents are now vulnerable to – many for the first time in their lives.

They also face the uncertainty around their education at a critical period of their school lives. Whatever about the Leaving Cert class of 2020, what about the class of 2021 and the anxiety they face into?

Yes, we are all feeling the pain but for our teenagers, it’s a pain that’ll linger long. Give them a break

And, lest we forget, this is the generation that faces a lifetime repaying the debts of a bank bailout book-ended onto this crisis. Yes, we are all feeling the pain but for our teenagers, it’s a pain that’ll linger long. Give them a break.