Gen Zs who are 2020 Covid HS Grads and 2024 College Grads - "I'm engaged" Trend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD graduated college this year and is on her way with a promising career as a Learning Disability Teacher. She and her boyfriend have been seriously dating for over 4 years. He's a great young man and we do love him. But after college graduation DD started floating the idea of getting engaged....stating that she knew many friends (both young women and men) who got engaged right after graduation.

My DD tells me that her generation is getting engaged/married younger - making it sound like a trend. I'm in the "you are too young to get engaged, let alone married" mainly because I feel she should focus on her career first without distractions of an "engagement".
I would give the same advice to any young man or woman just graduating college. But DD continues to show me posts from friends happily stating "I'm engaged"! Admittedly, on the university's parent FB page I did see a few posts of "happily engaged" right after graduation.

But I am wondering....is anyone else is seeing a "trend" of this generation getting engaged/married younger?

I wonder if this is a result of those being greatly affected by the "pandemic years" -- they lost key milestones from senior year in 2020 and then again their first year of college....all while seeing the devastating deaths on a daily basis via social media/news outlets.

I think it people on Facebook are doing it, then it must good.

[Anonymous]

Out of DC’s Class of 2020 friends, at least two went to very good colleges, then almost immediately dropped out in Fall of 2020. Campuses were almost entirely shut down but had students living in the dorms, almost in isolation, doing classes by zoom — quarantine for anyone who got Covid. Remember how bad it was? Take out only from the dining halls.

Who can blame them for dropping out. One got married shortly after (what else was there to do?) the other came home, got kicked out and moved in with the significant other.

So yes I think this is an unfortunate trend but maybe it happened more because of the derailment caused by Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why some people find it so triggering?

I don't know why someone can't raise an issue without being called "triggered"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She also wants to be a tradwife, amrite?

Probably. Learning disability teacher is a tip
off. Not going to make much money

[Anonymous]

Definitely NOT a trend in my kids' graduating cohorts at UVA and GMU. They know the family rule is no marriage until
grad school is finished and you are fully self-supporting. One kid is finishing his doctorate and the other is in law school.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know about a trend or if I am just noticing as my 24 yr old and his cohort are all engaged or married in the last year. 5 out of a group of 6.

I was surprised because I did not get married until I was 30 and had 2 serious relationships before I met my dh. I just assumed you did not marry your first gf/bf ( because I didn’t) but they all did.

My observation is that that age range ( starting in middle- hs) socialized so much less, and then the pandemic. So, I think they met/meet their person, are happy they have someone, and then they go back to less socializing again.

I don’t mean no friends, awkward, etc. They have friends, did sports or activities, good colleges, and employed. It’s just they were/ are more likely to stay in, do things with family, text, game on line. They also started work remotely so less office friendships formed.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve observed in a very small sample size!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the best spouses M and F get snatched up in their 20s.

They will be back on the market in 10 years if they get married out of college. LOL

Every couple I know is still together 20+ years later.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I am seeing this for sure.

[Anonymous]

Dh and I met in college. Still very happily married. I can think of a few friends and family members who dated amazing people at the time, were afraid to settle, and are now unmarried in 30s and 40s. Dating for a decade + does not seem remotely fun, and neither is being lonely. Obviously different if it is by choice!

[Anonymous]

This is normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which university? I’m sure that is a factor.

A "liberal" liberal arts medium size school in VA.

My guess is JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dh and I met in college. Still very happily married. I can think of a few friends and family members who dated amazing people at the time, were afraid to settle, and are now unmarried in 30s and 40s. Dating for a decade + does not seem remotely fun, and neither is being lonely. Obviously different if it is by choice!

I think this story is so common.

[Anonymous]

Spending nearly two years alone in isolation at home changes people. I am not surprised at all that young people place greater value on close connections. They missed out on them at a pivotal time in life. I wish them long and happy marriages. You should, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She also wants to be a tradwife, amrite?

You never know. My friend's DIL got engaged to her son in college and married right after. She was valedictorian of a highly competitive highschool, summa cum laude engineering grad and was recruited by Spacex and NASA. She is probably one the most ambitious young woman in this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spending nearly two years alone in isolation at home changes people. I am not surprised at all that young people place greater value on close connections. They missed out on them at a pivotal time in life. I wish them long and happy marriages. You should, too.

This^ and they witnessed loneliness issues faced by older singles during that time.