If you have a minute, take a look at this New York Times article that summarizes the findings of the Census Bureau’s 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States. What I found the most interesting is the shift in what college freshmen described as their primary personal objectives. In 1970, 79 percent said their goal was developing a meaningful philosophy of life. By 2005, 75 percent said their primary objective was to be financially very well off.
From my impression of recent news articles, I thought young people today are more likely to search out careers that they feel passionate about, take more risks in opening businesses, going down unconventional paths, etc. It’s a little strange that the census data indicates that our generation actually places more emphasis on financial security than 20-somethings in the 1970s.
Anyone want to venture a guess as to why that is?
Also, I found this fact especially encouraging: in 1970, 33,000 men and 2,000 women earned professional degrees; in 2004, the numbers were 42,000 men and 41,000 women.
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I’ll take a guess:
Mom and Dad have no money. They don’t want to end up like Mom and Dad.
- Bryan
http://www.BryanCFleming.com
I don’t think this is young people learning that their parents were stupid to pursue meaningful lives. I don’t think that at all.
I think it may have something to do with the high levels of debt with which college students increasingly graduate. It may also have something to do with cynicism.
I find that figure tremendously depressing.
I also think that our parents had a cause – protesting the Vietnam War, for example – around which they could rally. They shared a struggle, and rebelled against War and Conservatism by pushing for that meaning in life.
Perhaps we’re rebelling against that by being bull-headed in our pursuit of money and material goods?