For as long as I can remember, there has been a stigma surrounding the act of quitting. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “quitters never win, and winners never quit.” I think that this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it’s time to break that stigma.
The first activity I ever remember quitting was band in the fifth grade. I had played the flute, and after being absent for a couple days, I came back to school and was completely lost on the song we were learning to play. The idea of going to band class was no longer exciting, but riddled me with anxiety instead. The teachers also didn’t offer any extra help, even though we had a concert coming up, so I felt annoyed and defeated by the whole situation. I remember going to my dad, begging him to pull me out of band, when just months prior I was begging him to rent me the flute in the first place. Thankfully, he let me pull out of band, and I was able to take art with some of my good friends instead. In the end, I no longer dreaded going to school, and I think this is when my quitting streak truly started.
I quit soccer in high school because I hurt my knee, and after that, playing was no longer fun. Instead, it was painful and made me nervous to injure myself again. I loved the sport and I was good at it, but I no longer thought the game was worth it. So, I quit, in the same fashion that I quit band once it became a stressor for me. Does that mean I lack worth ethic? Or am I prioritizing my wants and needs?
More and more often, older generations complain about how my generation, Gen Z, is more likely to quit an activity or job if they don’t like it, or that we have a poor work ethic. I disagree. I believe that my peers have a very good work ethic, but it must be fostered in the right environment.
When it comes to employment, people are no longer willing to work like a dog in poor working environments for minimum wage. According to Newsweek, some of the reasons that members of my generation want to quit their job is the feeling of being underpaid, wanting additional benefits and being overworked. Can you really blame Gen Z?
Being a quitter doesn’t mean you have a poor work ethic, or that you’re a lousy person. If anything, I think being a quitter means you know your own value and won’t settle for less. Quitting shows courage.
Why be stuck in a job that makes you miserable? Why not get more work experience in various fields to see what you truly like? Why feel like you need to dedicate every ounce of your time to a company that could replace you in a second?
Whether it be relating to an activity or a job, the next time you find yourself in a situation you really don’t want to be in, don’t let people talk you out of quitting just for the sake of their opinion. Always do what’s best for you because quitting isn’t always a bad thing.