Thread by @BostonGlobe

When COVID hit, young people watched many of the familiar markers of adulthood dissolve: graduations, weddings, college classes, jobs, dates. bos.gl/mll8TvZ

And now with the world moving towards a new status quo, many in this generation feel deeply unsettled but also less bound by convention.

Those who shared their stories with the Globe say they have become more sure of themselves and how they want to spend their time.

Sanpha Samura, 23, living in Mattapan, wants to have a fascinating career without owing tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. bos.gl/mll8TvZ

Sarah Hehrer, 26 years old and a Everett resident, is prioritizing building a life around the people she cares about.

Hehrer (right) moved across the country to share a two bedroom apartment with her best friend from college, Margaret Born (left). bos.gl/mll8TvZ

Iliana Vidal, 21, living in Chelsea, said the pandemic inspired her to turn her art into activism.

She is also making plans to earn a business degree that could enable her to continue to work for nonprofits, or maybe even start her own organization. bos.gl/mll8TvZ

Ryan Page, 30 years old and a Waltham resident, is thinking more about how to make the life he’s dreamed of a reality. bos.gl/mll8TvZ

Ahmad Azari, 25, living in Allston, said, “This pandemic emphasized the importance of being OK, and being happy, and valuing the small things in life.” bos.gl/mll8TvZ

Andrea Noble, 28, from Jamaica Plain, thought for years that she wouldn’t move back to the West. But her latest travels westward have brought her a sense of calm that she couldn’t find on the East Coast. bos.gl/mll8TvZ