For decades, generations of New Jersey teens have made Memorial Day weekend synonymous with going down the shore. After a long, tiresome year, students view this break as a light at the end of the tunnel. With hundreds of teens flocking to the beach every Memorial Day, the hype around the weekend has become so extreme that those who can’t make it down often experience the fear of missing out, or FOMO.
As Memorial Day approaches, those who do not own beach houses desperately jump through hoops to find a place to stay. Whether asking around for a friend to have them or begging their parents to rent for the weekend, there is a lot of unneeded stress generated for everyone involved. The chaos often overshadows the true spirit of Memorial Day, turning a time meant for remembrance and relaxation into a frantic scramble to fit in.
Unsurprisingly, social media fuels FOMO, as teens at the shore constantly post pictures and videos desperate to show off the fun they are having. This creates a distorted and exaggerated image of the ‘DTS’ experience and causes everyone who isn’t there to feel like they’re missing out on a fun time. With the packed, monotonous Seaside Boardwalk being the main night-time attraction for teens, the fun of going out is certainly overhyped. During the day, there is little to miss out on either, given the typical cold and cloudy weather often forbids teens from partaking in their favorite hobby: tanning by the ocean.
Without fail, every year, those who go down the shore describe Memorial Day weekend as a “preview of summer.” Exaggerated remarks like this further teens’ fear of missing out, as they suggest that the shore is the only acceptable spot to have a fun summer. Not only is this false considering summer can be just as enjoyable in other places, but it’s also unrealistic as teens busy with sports or jobs often can’t make it down.
The fear of missing out on Memorial Day festivities down the shore can feel overwhelming, but it’s key to remember that meaningful and fun moments can occur anywhere, not only at the most popular and bustling spots. Rather than getting wrapped up in this annual chaos, teens should take a step back, embrace their time spent with friends and family wherever they are and recognize the true meaning of the holiday.
Photo credit: “Seaside Heights, New Jersey” by Peter Miller is linked under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)
