Gen Y Unemployed

I'm a member of generation Y, and should be at the age where I'm starting a career and planning to provide for myself. Unfortunately, the economic problems have put that on hold, and I'm still dependent on my parents for support.

I'm very fortunate in that they understand my generation is facing a particularly hard time getting established. I acknowledge that the preceding generations have problems of their own, but I fear the Gen Y'ers will end up bearing the brunt of the hard economic times ahead.

I like to think I'm doing everything I can to overcome the challenge, and I'm going back to school for retraining, because my original major was an idealistic mistake I made in my foolish youth. (28 now, and I've learned a few life lessons since my original foray into college in '02).

Still, I know there are no guarantees. That's been one of the hardest things for me to accept. I know even if I work hard, get the right grades and credentials, the odds will still be stacked against me, and that's when I had a terrifying thought. That my parents might pass away before they see that I made it into the workforce and that I'll be alright. I don't want their last waking thoughts in life to be, "What will happen to my son?"

So I guess my question is: if you're of a similar age, have baby boomer parents that are inching toward retirement, do you ever fear that they'll worry for your future or feel disappointed in you toward the end of their lives? My parents supported me more than I deserve, and I can't stand the thought that they might think it was all for nothing because I'm still unemployed when they're waiting out their last days on earth in a hospice somewhere.

It's kind of dark and depressing I know, but what the hell, it's a dark time. I was going to find an emoticon to end this post on, but I couldn't really find one that was appropriate so I'll just add this one:

Ponzu, I don't think you should worry about that. Your parents love and support you, they understand how things are everywhere. At 28 it's still all ahead of you, you seem to have a plan, which is good. Don't beat yourself up about foolish majors and life choices, we all made them early on. Your are taking your life into your hands and redirecting, which is good.

Having just buried my Dad in April after being unemployed and a 99er (June 2008) after a 36 year career, the last thing I worried about or my Dad thought about was whether he guided me to make right choices. We had the last weeks together, I was by his side, he was true to himself to the end. We were family. We were there for each other and for him. That's the important thing, the time you spend together.

We all hope this turns around for all of us, but especially for those who haven't had the chance to "spread their wings" and discover what they may want to do for the rest of their lives. Times are indeed hard and if this forum gives you some relief then we are happy to have you here.

Please check in and let us know how you are doing. Welcome to your UFF2 family.

Thanks, I'll try not to worry. I may have been too hard on myself at times, and will try not to let it get the best of me.

Ponzu,
Don't you worry about any of that, parents are tough, they raised you to do what you think is the best for you. You will succeed in your choosen career, educational desire for more learning, or whatever it is you plan for yourself in life. As MaryKay said check in with us, we will all be pulling for you. We are many as baby boomers ourselves and really want you to succeed as well.

disgusted, you are so right and nice!!

What disgusted said!! Your parents are proud of you and with good reason. They deserve a pat on the back for doing such an excellent parenting job. My 30-year old son is struggling... hard, and so am I. He is determined not to give up, and we stick together through thick and thin. Unfortunately, thick seems to have disappeared. This nightmare won't last forever because we Americans are going to find a way to end it. Hang tough for as long as it takes. You certainly sound like you have all the determination you need.

Ponzu I am glad you have supportive parents, many are not, and will throw the adult young person/kid out to sink. This is what happened to me when I was young. Things got bad with Generation X, while the Baby Boomers had large homes and more, my own family was upper middle class, I know we were relegated to low level jobs, neither I or my husband even when employed never made more then the mid 20s.

Now it seems you all can't even get the low level--rent a room and live out of milk crates jobs. I have three cousins ages 24-27 still living at home with parents. It is like their lives are at a stand still. I wish you were under 24, I would have said, try Job Corp to at least get out of the house, maybe there are other alternatives, missionary work, Peace corps to a decent area. Don't go into more debt with college. Have you considered life overseas? College isn't doing it anymore. Have your parents ask a friend or someone to hire you into at least an entry level job. Use the connections.

My upper middle class Baby Boomer parents were disappointed with me very early on. I've had this shame and stigma unloaded. That is the worse thing is Baby Boomer parents who had a totally different life, who judge their young people. [I graduated from college did the "right stuff" and had health problems and was called a "loser" over and over, and I even was a teacher for some time!. Yours seem more understand even in that they have given you a place to live. If you are female you could look into marriage, to move into a better bracket, that at least is an option females have, to find a husband who is more traditional and would not mind a wife at home. if male I know that is much harder. Be happy you have parents who seem to care about you.

Give them links to this blog, it tells people who things ARE COLLAPSING.

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/

At least it sounds like they do not blame you.

Yes, I read the articles and comments on The Economic Collapse Blog almost every day. We are going to come together as family more and more because we have been left with no other choice. One day, we will rid the government and wall street of the corruption and fraud. In the meantime, we must all understand that we aren't taking the low road by choice - it's just that we have no other choice and very strong survival instincts. That is why we will get through this. Our numbers are increasing every day. People that had no clue are now realizing the truth of what is going on. Stay strong and stay positive. Things will change for the better.

Oh, I know this all too well.

I'm 26 and my parents just turned 60 this year. It's a frightening state to be in. Not only do I worry about feeding myself on a regular basis, I worry about my parents' struggles and the fact that they are quickly approaching retirement. Fortunately, they purchased the house my father grew up in and don't have too much left on the mortgage, but I also know they exhausted quite a bit of their nest egg. Their friends are retiring faster than I can keep up with, but they mostly have state jobs with pensions. They don't have the same problems my parents have, on top of them trying to help me out when they can.

It was never supposed to be this way- the retirees not being able to care for themselves, and their children not being able to care for themselves all at once.

The good news is, things will change in a few years, for good or bad. The Baby Boomers' time is almost at an end. Their jobs will be up for grabs at some point, I just hope they are all able to care for themselves afterwards and that our government and health care system can handle it.

I, too, am considering a complete career change. Not just applying for jobs I am qualified for in other fields, but going back to school to join the medical field. Something an Associate's degree can cover. It's a scary situation to be in. I just admitted it out loud to my husband today. He told me it could be a good option considering I have no outstanding student loans and have not used any grant money. It's also extremely sad... I purposely chose the noble career in education, and just about everyone is getting shafted now. I considered becoming a para, but I would just have to go through certification for that as well, and they get paid even less than teachers.

I just know that, when Gen Y comes into full power, the world will change. For the better. And you can be certain of that- we have lived through quite a lot of things thus far. Critics be damned.