Today's children and teenagers are often perceived as ultra-connected, dreamers or sometimes out of touch with the realities of the working world. But what do they really want for their future?

What are their deepest dreams and aspirations? Thanks to a study carried out among young people by ACADOMIA, this article plunges you into the ambitions and concerns of children and teenagers in the 21st century.

Traditional dreams for the future

Classic trades still in the lead

Contrary to popular belief, not all young people today don't all dream of becoming influencers or youtubers. The study reveals that their ambitions remain largely focused on traditional professions:

Veterinarian (8%)

Doctor (6%)

Engineer (5%)

Teacher, policeman, lawyer, scientist and architect are also among the most common aspirations.

It is interesting to note that only 2% of young people surveyed said they wanted to become influencers, youtubers or streamersThis contrasts with trends in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, where these professions attract almost 60% of young people.

A desire for independence and professional freedom

Although young people don't necessarily express an explicit desire for entrepreneurship, 42% of them prefer to be self-employed rather than salaried. This figure shows a growing desire for professional freedom, without necessarily translating into an interest in setting up their own business.

The explanation? Many of the professions that attract young people, such as veterinary surgeons, doctors and lawyers, are self-employed. Rather than seeing entrepreneurship as a project in itself, they are primarily looking for independence in their work.

A positive view of the future, but concerns remain

A contrast between young people's optimism and parents' concern

The study highlights a striking striking gap between young people's perceptions and those of their parents. 67% of children believe they will have a better life than their parents.whereas 70% of parents think the opposite.

This difference in perception reflects two visions of the world:

The young people, confident in their personal abilities and in those close to themsee their future with optimism.

The faced with economic and environmental challengesare more pessimistic about their children's future.

Concerns about the challenges of the 21st century

If young people are confident in themselves, 45% express some concern about future challengesincluding climate change. Eco-anxiety, which is affecting more and more teenagers, is reflected in this study, although the quest for meaning only comes in 7th position among success criteria.

On the other hand, financial financial success remains a priority :

The number 1 success criterion for young people is "making a lot of money".

Parents, on the other hand, place the creation of a family as the primary aspiration for their children.

This divergence points to a paradigm shift: where previous generations valued family stabilitytoday's young people are looking first and foremost for financial security and freedom of choice.

Are young people more committed than they seem?

Towards greater awareness of societal issues

Although the desire to change the world only comes 7th placethis does not mean that young people are indifferent to current issues. On the contrary, their sensitivity to environmental and social issues manifests itself differently:

23% of young people want to work in the field of care and helping others (doctors, nurses, psychologists, educators).

Ecology and sustainable development are major preoccupationsbut are not yet considered as a professional career.

The challenge of making new professions visible

If young people remain attached to traditional professions, it's also because new career opportunities remain unknown. Careers linked to ecology, digital technology or social innovation are still struggling to establish themselves in the collective imagination.

Schools and parents have a role to play in helping young people to explore the professions of tomorrowthat combine meaning and economic opportunity.

Conclusion: dreams that are more realistic than they seem

Far from the clichés of the ultra-connected youngster dreaming of stardom, today's children and teenagers have their feet firmly on the ground.. Their vision of the future oscillates between personal optimism and societal concernsbetween independence and the appeal of traditional careers.

While their priority today remains financial security, there's no doubt that the challenges of the 21st century will continue to shape their aspirations and career choices..

The Soft Kids team 🌈