Exploring Adulthood

Members of the millennial generation (people born in the 1980s-2000s) are often labeled as lazy and narcissistic. We are the generation that's projected to move back into our parents' basements post-graduation. We are the generation that grew up with computers. We are the generation that became obsessed with social media, and consequently, ourselves.

But, that isn't how David Brooks sees it. In his article "How Adulthood Happens," Brooks contends that even though the number of people who move back in with their parents is double what it was in the 1960s, that this is not abnormal. Rather, it is the result of several societal factors that have manifested themselves in a prolonged transition to adulthood.

One of these factors, he argues, is the shift in the focus of academic institutions. Today, on average, college students spend half the time studying a day compared to their counterparts in the previous generation. Much of this is due to the increased focus on social events fueled by the college admissions arms race. Today, college has become a socially rich environment made up of world-class gyms, renovated student centers, and opportunities to attend concerts, performances, and other activities. All of these make colleges look more attractive to prospective students, but once they arrive on campus, these same institutions are great distractions for students. This results in graduates who are not used to working hard outside of structured environments, and, perhaps more importantly, not used to being alone.

So, graduates are sent into the world without direction, drive, or support. This leads them to rely on their parents for financial and emotional stability while giving themselves the chance to discover themselves. And many graduates are happy to spend a few extra years in transition. In their book “Getting to 30,” Jeffrey Arnett and Elizabeth Fishel write, “The value of youth has risen, and the desirability of adulthood has dropped accordingly. Today’s young people expect to reach adulthood eventually, and they expect to enjoy their adult lives, but most are in no hurry to get there.”

And it's understandable that they're not clamoring to be adults. All their lives they have been told that they could do anything they wanted if they put enough effort into it. But, the reality is that the dream jobs that involve "making an impact on the world" are few and far between. 

So, instead, adults today wander through this murky stage of young adulthood, afraid to settle for something that is not their passion. And that's okay. They should have room to explore. Instead of seeing them as lazy, good-for-nothing, leeches we should view them as determined and passionate individuals who want to make their mark on the world. Instead of shunning them, we should embrace them and encourage them to find their passions. Because only then will they go on to do what they find interesting and exciting. And who knows? The world may be a better place because of it.