But the World Don't Need Scholars as Much as I Thought..

I just came across this article from 2004 from the USA TODAY http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-09-30-extended-adolescence_x.htm and it almost entirely contradicts everything I said in my previous post. Now I don't mean to imply that I'm making a retraction, four couples in my immediate friend group getting married at the age of 23/24 makes my point valid. However, the article, "It's Time to Grow Up- Later," discusses twentysomethings as highly educated layabouts who put off marriage, careers, and fiscal responsibility. All of five years ago, in "trying fiscal times" (apparently I missed that suffering memo in 2004) twentysomethings were engaging in the gap period between adolescence and adulthood in an effort to not enter into a life they would later regret. The now pushing 30 year olds were fleeing off to far off lands to teach and more or less engage in an idealistic walkabout that prolonged office work and matrimony as long as possible. In my head, I'm picturing a bunch of college grads trading in their Abercrombie wardrobes and heading off in search of meaning, (Ipods still firmly in their ears) while living in a hut in some country whose name I cannot pronounce. Worldly possessions left in the keeping of mom and dad, who support their idealism, or if they're my father, wondering why he spent hordes of money on private schools, study abroad progams, and a college education.


Ok, so I'm stereotyping. And probably from the 90s with flannel shirts, Timberland knock off boots, dreads, and body odor....and a crappy van for cross country trips, a lot of hemp, and incense. Or perhaps I'm just thinking of my aunt who spent her 20s that way. All in all, I'm not feeling that this is overly representative of where we are now. Yes I can log into facebook and pick probably 20 kids off my friends list who have traveled to distant lands to teach English or minister to the sick, but to a letter all of them are doing missionary work in the process, and/or it's a part of their graduate studies programs.


This in fact leads me to what I think my point is about this article, it generally categorizes us as irresponsible idealists who are demanding to be coddled well into our twenties. Now as a 24 year old who is coddled and spoiled by mom and dad, I have to admit to a hypocrisy here. I pay my car insurance, student loans, gas, phone bill and tuition, but I do live and eat for free, which is apparently falling into one of their stereotypes. Yes, I am "saving money," but it's also really damn nice to come home from work and eat mom's cooking. However, I'm in the minority. Most of my friends are apartment dwellers, engaged, working in an office in a field not of their choice, and doing what has to be done to make ends meet. Are they debating grad school and/or in it? Yes, but in this economy it's nearly mandatory. What hope does someone with a bachelor's degree have for competing against a master's candidate and/or ten years experience? They end up doing white collar grunt work and hating their lives, but the fact of the matter is they're doing what has to be done and being responsible.

And isn't that what being an adult is about?

Taking responsibility?

Hating your life?

Going to bed at 10:30?

Talking about your job at weddings?

Not smelling bad?