Recent data show teenagers now are more stressed, depressed, and anxious than at almost any point in recent history.
For many adults, hearing this probably provokes concern and bewilderment: whats wrong with todays teens?
I can almost imagine teachers muttering to themselves: what could they possibly have to complain about?
But life for todays teens is quite different than for previous generations, and the challenges many of us face are indeed quite daunting.
When asked what had her feeling down one of my friends answered, I dont know, maybe because Im probably going to have to sell my kidneys in order to pay for college, Ill work until the day I die, and old people hate everything we do.
Sounds harsh, right?
But before you write her off as just another angst-filled, hyperbolic teen, lets dive deeper into these musings.
It might be even help adults uncover how to be a part of the solution and understand adolescents altogether.
Im probably going to have to sell my kidneys in order to pay for college.
Kids today are overwhelmed by how much it costs to go to college. Student debt in the U.S. is a whopping $1.5 trillion.
Break that down, and the average college graduate leaves with a diploma in one hand and an IOU of $37,172 in the other.
It didnt used to be that way. In 1988, when my mom graduated college, KU cost $1,325 a year. Now, its over $10,000.
Some studies show that low- and moderate-income students are able to afford fewer than 5 percent of colleges. And even though we know that a college degree is a ticket to the middle class, the student loan debt crisis is a gray cloud in the distance for young adults.
Ill work to the day I die
Programs like Medicare and Social Security are not guaranteed to be around for my generation.
