I agree with the general problem description being true not only in the US but in Germany as well, college debt not quite as bad.
Add to that a high degree of institutional entrepreneurship disincentivization and you'll have created the powderkeg young prople are left with.
I’m watching a whole generation get failed in real time. They’re being punished for doing everything they were told to do.
At school they’re taught a curriculum that does not prepare them for life with little to no understanding of finance / debt.
As they come out of school they’re pushed towards taking loans out to go to University.
They are led to believe that University is crucial for their career prospects.
However, the majority of degrees available are not vocational.
They study for three / five years and are indoctrinated with teachers who are very left leaning and slowly the that ideology spreads between students and who would blame them?
Show me a young person who isn’t left leaning and I’ll tell you they don’t have a heart.
Show me an old person who isn’t right leaning and I’ll tell you they don’t have a brain.
However, the problem is that the world is showing them as they enter adulthood that it’s all a giant scam.
The veil was lifted during COVID.
They’re left wing with a Marxist view on the world and a degree that isn’t vocational with a tonne of debt they can’t pay off because they can’t get a job in their field.
These kids can’t get a job.
They blame the world but place the blame incorrectly and their mental health ends up suffering as a result of it.
My words of advice to any young buck or gal aged 16 to 22 is the following:
1: Learn a trade or a vocational degree.
If you’re able to get that under your belt whilst you’re young then you have the opportunity on the side to explore your passions and interests.
2: Explore your curiosities.
You’ll find what you really enjoy and what you’re really good at during this time.
3: Network.
I would then encourage them to learn in public, not to become an “influencer” but instead to build a portfolio of public work in your interest that slowly becomes your network.
4: Monetise.
From there they can begin to think how they can monetise what they’re really good at and take the risks to do it knowing full well they’ll always have steady work when things get hairy. An income is extremely important and let’s get more from the world (travel, hobbies, experiences, etc).
What would your words of advice be?