(For the first time, one of my own children will be among them. My oldest child will be a high school graduate.)
What kind of world will the new graduates be facing?
I decided to check on some key areas and find out:
Employment
As has become common for recent years, jobs will be hard for the new graduates to find:
- From WKYT.com, Job Outlook for Graduates
- From KCRA.com, Summer Job Outlook Tough For Teens
Cost of Living
The cost of running a household is higher than ever. In fact, many consumers are spending their economic stimulus checks on necessities just to stay caught up with their expenses:
- From Boston Globe, As it turns out, federal windfalls aren't going far
Environment
Today's graduates will have to be more mindful of the environment as the harmful effects of pollution and other contaminants become more widely known. For example, a number of areas near me have recently been found to be contaminated with dangerous chemicals:
- From the Dallas Morning News, Hundreds attend schools bordering chemical sites
Physical Fitness
We have become a sedentary people. Even as portion sizes increased across the United States and other Western countries, the level of physical activity decreased. If today's graduates want to maintain their youthful health, then they will have to make a conscious effort to stay fit:
- From the Centers for Disease Control
What do you see as the biggest challenges for graduates? What advice would you give?
Leave a comment and let us know.
Image source: www.sxc.hu
Higher cost of living is really going to affect recent college graduates. Last year, the Today Show aired a segment on this very topic. It's sad, but many financial experts predict that more than 50% of new graduates will have to move back in with their parents because their starting salaries will not be enough to keep up with inflation (housing, insurance, fuel, etc.)
Posted by: Valencia | June 2, 2008 7:47 PM | Permalink to Comment