Originally Posted by redforever
I disagree with this statement and I will explain from my perspective why. First of all, I will clarify that I am in the older age group they are talking about, not the 20 to 35 age group. I personally believe the prospect of doing well in your career choice was much higher when I was graduating than it is now. Perhaps times are changing as once again, there is a dire need of trained people, no matter if in the trades or if in certain professions. But when I graduated, I could pretty well have the pick of any job.
Let me tell you how I got my first teaching job. I had recently graduated, was engaged, and my future spouse would still have to finish his university. So my Dad figured one of us should be working and earning some money, and by the choice of elimination, that meant me. At that time, I was living close to Regina, but after marriage, I would be living in Saskatoon.
So one day, when my Dad was not too busy, he figured we should just drive up to Saskatoon, and drop in at the School Board and talk to some people. And that is exactly what we did. Never sent out resumes ahead of time, never arranged for an interview appointment, just drove off to Saskatoon. Well, we found the School Board, somehow got an interview very easily, AND I walked out of there with a teaching job.
When my husband graduated two years later, he was wined and dined by various oil and gas companies, as was the case with most people who were Geology majors at the time. Well, he had 7 job offers and basically chose the one with the most money.
And that is how it was for us and most of our friends. Almost too easy, but that was how the times were.
Now, on the other hand, my children's generation, that would be the 25 to 35 age group, they certainly dont have the same experiences as my husband or I did. Quite the opposite in fact for a lot of them even though well educated for the most part. Times have changed.
And I believe, because of that type of experience, many have become depressed and disillusioned with perhaps not the best hopes for the future. AND because of that, I believe this generation, the ME generation, will be the first generation that will not do better than their parents nor earn more than their parents.
And I think that for many, once they have realized that, they come to the conclusion that they should live for now. Certainly try and have some plans for the future, but live now. Now I dont necessarily fault that, I think many of my generation were perhaps a bit too serious about things. Not always of their own doing as most of us in this generation had grandparents who had lived through the Depression. And almost every one of them worked their knuckles to the bone to get any little thing they had. And you get influenced by that, in seeing their work ethic and hearing them talk about how hard it was. I also think that so many of my generation had so many hopes for their children and because of that, perhaps put too much pressure on their children to do well.... that in itself can lead to depression as well.
Now of course, there are always those who are extreme in how they live their lives and I really think it is that segment today who are responsible for the ME generation label. I am talking about those who always seem to be living their life on the edge. And for many on the outside, looking in on them as they live their lives that way, it seems as if they are selfish, all about me.
I have met many young people, from all over the world, and most of the times, I am left with great hopes for our future. Times might have changed, attitudes might have changed, but for the most part, young people are still good. I dont fear the future with them in charge.
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