Thread by @TimeOutLondon

London’s freshest generation of adults were born in Y2K, turned 16 as Britain voted to leave the EU and graduated from teenagehood amid the pandemic.

What does all that do to a person? That’s the question we asked 20 21-year-olds from the capital 👇

timeout.com/london/things-…

⭐Callum, Lifeguard, Dalston

‘I’ve lived [in Dalston] my whole life. I’ve kind of seen it go from undesirable, and, you know, quite a dodgy place, to being hipster central. And that’s all happened within my lifetime. It used to be a lovely mix of everything'

⭐Jade, Radio producer, Lewisham

‘In job interviews, me saying I’m from south-east kind of puts a thing in interviewers' minds, like: Oh, have you been involved in any criminal activity? I’ve been in interviews where someone said: “Oh, you have a really, you know, English name”

⭐Oliver, Fashion student, Shoreditch

‘At school, I was more into art than academia. And, because of that, they ruled me out as misbehaving. That caused problems for me. The government need to create more opportunities for families from council estates’

⭐Stafi, Photographer, Bermondsey

‘Before the pandemic I was doing so much, like a ridiculous amount of jobs. I’ve been working as a freelance photographer since I was 16. It meant I missed out on normal teenage life. Now I’m trying to take a step back and actually enjoy myself’

⭐Ameena, Theatre producer, Islington

'In December of last year I became the youngest producer in the West End, with a show called “Death Drop”, which was a drag murder mystery. I think, in my industry, the pandemic has kind of opened doors for younger people’

⭐Omar, Architecture intern, Notting Hill

‘I was in the middle of an architecture degree when the pandemic hit. I started thinking: Am I actually enjoying this? We've had more time to be introspective. I’ve realised that it possibly isn’t really the route I want to go down’

⭐Isaac, Volunteer ambassador, St John’s Wood

‘I came from a Muslim family so I didn’t do any of that fun stuff up until 18, when I could go out with my friends and go to nightclubs. I only got a little taster of that life for like a year and a half, and then it got pulled away'

⭐Daisy, Food bank coordinator, Hackney

‘Smoking areas in clubs are just such a social space, and I think that’s one we’re all glad to have back now: those random “Can I borrow your lighter?” moments, you know, that turn into a chat and then you get a number’

⭐Somriddho, Model, Marylebone

'I have been using Bumble BFF recently to meet new people because I just moved to Marylebone and I don’t really know many people in the area. Like, two hours ago I met a guy who literally lives 100 metres from me. And we just clicked immediately'

⭐Izzy, Drama school graduate, Mill Hill

‘I’ve just graduated from uni and I’ve moved back in with my parents. I obviously really want to move in with my friends, but it’s genuinely impossible to afford after three years of uni. All my friends are in the same boat’

⭐Mickael, Model, King’s Cross

‘I invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies. I’m trying to build up my portfolio in terms of Bitcoin and Ethereum. I want to get into being able to sell some sort of artwork that I’ve made online, so like with NFTs’

⭐Monnae, Youth support worker, Tottenham

‘My big worry during the lockdown was my rent: just the worry of going into arrears and how to get out of it, that sense of debt. I want to be a teacher but when the pandemic hit I lost motivation. That’s back now'

⭐Bella, Vaccination volunteer, Wandsworth

‘I’m halfway through my medical degree. I’ve taken this year as a gap year. I’ve spent it as a volunteer vaccinator. I think young people have felt isolated, especially last year, because everyone was blaming the twentysomethings'

⭐Oceanne, Marketer, East Dulwich

‘Older generations think we’re all antisocial and just want to stay on our phones, and that social media is all that matters to us. But I feel like it’s more that we have a different way of communicating and connecting with other people to them’

⭐Dan, Hairdresser, Ealing

‘I always knew I wanted to move to London. When the pandemic struck, I had that “it’s now or never” feeling. I’ve been here for six months now. I like the fact you can be whoever you want to be. I don’t really feel the pressure to fit into society'

⭐Ruby, Chef, Hackney Wick

‘When I moved to London in January, I was like, “God, what am I doing? You can’t go anywhere.” It was a bit random but I don’t regret it. I feel like there’s still opportunity here. Even though hospitality is on its knees, everyone’s coming together'

⭐Pippa, Social worker, Clapham

‘I was on a uni placement in a care home during the second wave. That was intense. We lost a lot of residents, and I had built relationships with these people. It made me appreciate life a lot more because I was seeing how quickly it can be taken'

⭐Elliot, Poet, Finchley

‘I think people tend to, as they grow up, be more okay with being alone, like they’ve already done everything else. But the social isolation, at this age, just feels very daunting. I have a lot of friends who are struggling with it more than I am, too’

⭐Ed, Rugby player, Shoreditch

‘I like the gym and going for a few beers. But one good thing that’s happened because of bars and clubs being closed is it's brought my friendship group together. We've spent more time face-to-face. I’ve had conversations I wouldn’t normally have’

⭐Marino, Student, Pimlico

‘I'm an international student from Berlin. I’m an introvert, so I don’t mind being alone, but I’ve found, on the education side of things, it’s been quite difficult. There hasn’t been support from either the university or the government'

What have you learned from the capital's next gen?

timeout.com/london/things-…