I can relate. They do have to figure out their own path, but it is very rough for this generation. Graduating from college is no guarantee they'd be working. Mother of a 22-year old job hunter here. Wish she had learned a trade like electricity or carpentry, because having a 4-year degree from a great state school is not worth what I paid for it, apparently. The tens of thousands of dollars would have been better spent paying for an apprenticeship. The salaries are better, the job security is better, and you can be your own boss eventually. Her two unpaid internships and two temp jobs haven't led to a full time job. Now, I am supposed to pay for graduate school apparently, but I think I'd just be pouring money down the same drain. Of her 9 cousins, only 2 have full time jobs, one in a jail and one working for the state. The others piece together a living with part time jobs, and all but one has a college degree. The one that makes the most money is a masseuse, and he didn't need a degree for it. One owes for student loans and is working at a fast food restaurant. So, you are not alone among the anxious parents out there.
Kathryn and
@Charris...my baby was fortunate to have parents who were able (because I decided, in my mid 40s, to finish college, take some post-grad classes and get a better job...and my ENTIRE paycheck, for four years went to "the college of your choice") to pay for most of college as she went and to pay off the student loans when she graduated. And she's a Gen Xer, not a Millenial...a good percentage of which group strikes me as clueless, but anyway...
She had wonderful, exciting jobs with decent pay and many opportunities, hanging with movie stars and the president and people like Jane Goodall and talented composers and musicians. We have photos of her with presidents and rock stars, riding an elephant, and with Crystal (the real name of Dexter, the Capuchin monkey from Night at the Museum.). Even the unexciting, low-paying jobs had perqs that allowed her multiple trips to Europe and to New Zealand.
HOWEVER, her parents kept reminding her that her jobs did not offer job security or defined benefit retirement plans, which we have and which helped keep her afloat during unemployment and all. We frequently reminded her that HER retirement plan consisted of, "First, Mom and Dad die..."
So at age 40, she bit the bullet, took a thousand dollar a month pay cut, and took a job that was extremely stressful, had rugged hours, was considerably beneath her intellectual ability and kept her in a"probationary" status for 18 long months...and, for the first time ever, she was just one of the Indians instead of the Chief. It will eventually pay more than she WAS making, even without any promotions. And there are many promotional paths. Meanwhile, she has MUCH BETTER benefits which will continue to save her money over time AND a retirement plan that will keep her from grocery shopping in the cat food aisle. (She stopped by this morning on her way to get fitted for a few pieces of the employer-provided uniform. So she doesn't even have to bounce for "work clothes.")
We feel like we can finally exhale.
But she is (now) 41 and is nowhere near as goofy as Millenials are.
So, find yourselves doctors who will write prescriptions for Ativan and/or Valium and/or X-anax...and have a seat. It might be a long ride.
) it would be so nice to be able to wave a wand and have them do as I wish. Life would be so much better for all of us and they wouldn't be muttling through life at the moment. Both are smart but one's bad decisions with drugs, booze and the impact that has on finances has left him unable to get student loans now to finish school. He will have to figure out a,way to get by and through school. Collin just doesn't think he needs school because he doesn't know what he wants to do and of course making $13/hour and working 60 hours,a week is great....yeah great when splitting rent with three other dudes when you are 20. He also decided against joining the Navy. I am very frustrated with both and want them to have an easier path in life than I did, but they are choosing the wrong path right now. They have to figure it out on their own. I just hope sooner than later. I hope your daughter does as well.
