Graduates by Susan L.

I shared a wonderful dinner with my youngest son and daughter-in-law. We had some laughs, some remembrances, some meaty conversations. One of the topics was the lack of jobs for our young people graduating from postsecondary schools. Most of my son's class isn't working in their field but at minimum wage retail jobs. There is something wrong. There's an expectation in our young people that an education will guarantee a good job with a six figure salary. Those are far and few between. As parents we have done them a grave disservice. In driving home the rhetoric that school=wealth we have misrepresented the truths of how businesses actually works. It takes time and dedication to build a career. Part of this is our society's mind set which demands instant gratification. Press a button, it's done in seconds. We haven't taught our children patience. Just looking at the mountain of debt our young people are carrying further affirms this idea. Money was borrowed to get that degree/diploma today! The idea of working and saving seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird. Debt isn't just the domain of the young. It's rife in our North American society. We want, we get and ignore the long term consequences of cumulating debt. "Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken." Gen 3:23