As college graduation approaches in May, nervous parents have called about their children not being employed.
Most parents – I suppose the moms more than the dads – focused far more on the potential mental health implications of post-graduation unemployment rather than the financial implications.
This is a historical anomaly. I am not even referring to the obvious notion that for the vast majority of human history, the near exclusive goal of work was putting food on the table but even 20 years ago when I first started providing career counseling for young adults.
Parents in the 2000s would call with worry: “How will Johnny pay his bills? We don’t want to support him forever….”
Now, while such issues remain, the emotional pain of parents focuses far more on the anxiety/depression of their children.
“I know I shouldn’t compare myself but it seems like everyone has figured out their lives”. So said Jessica, a recent career counseling client from Fairfield, Connecticut.
The nonsense and noise of social media.
But… still real in Jessica’s mind.