Response to Times Maazine Article

It has been said that, "losing your way on a journey is unfortunate, but losing your purpose along the journey is a fate far more cruel". In response to New York Times article titled, "What is it about 20-Somethings?” I have to disagree with the concept of "emerging adulthood". The more reasonable theory why “20-something” year olds “lose” their way is due to all of the cultural and economic changes that affect our society. Therefore, the young adults or the so called “20-somethings” are just trying to deal with the new challenges in front of them.
Our last model of the "traditional cycle" for adults was to get out of college, so he or she will be able to find a well paying and a stable job. Then it was to start a relationship, get married and have kids. After that the cycle was to repeat itself over and over. However, psychologist and everyone should have known that our society would advance and change over time. With change brings a cycle in which people reach “adulthood”. Not anymore, we have college graduates finding stable jobs; most of them are trying to just make enough money to survive. Which is why, most of these graduates or “20-something” year olds seem lost and not on the “right” path to adulthood.
In today's society there are fewer jobs due to our economic status of our country. The unemployment rate is down, so more “20-somethings” are struggling to find a job right after they finish college. With the job market the way it is, this provides “20-somethings” a better purpose to go back to school for a higher degree or to take time off to find oneself. This is only possible due to the job market the way it is in the United States. However, the bad economy shouldn't be connected to an unknown stage in human development; it is just a factor in how people are growing up this in this day and age. I am certain when the economy is back to a stable state; there will be many jobs available for kids that come out of college that who want one. No one could have seen the dramatic effect(s) that a poor economy would do to our society. Therefore, any sudden changes that affect our society in a big way cannot be predicted or take accounted for by psychologist(s). Significant change(s) that happen all of a sudden; people cannot try to work against the problem but they have to work with it, till there is a solution. This is what the “20-Somethings” year olds are doing; trying to live their lives as best as they can.
There are many other known and other unknown factors that affect what choices “20-something” year old decide to do. This is even the same for people past that age point. Psychologists and the people in this article have to understand that everyone has their own unique background. Everyone has a unique story and like a snowflake no two people’s stories are the same. Therefore, psychologist can say the “20-somethings” are experiencing “emerging adulthood”. However, it is truly people trying to live with the problems society has given them and trying to make the most of it. They are not lost or have no direction, but they are just undiscovered.