Comments on: Stop worrying that your twentysomething is lost http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:34:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: JEM http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-223042 JEM Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:39:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-223042 What the author is trying to tell the readers is that a lot of people in their 20s (notice no apostrophe) do not yet know which career to settle for, and that is okay because having an open mind and not settling for something for the sake of settling is much more beneficial to your future. The fact that she mentions that people in their 20s change jobs every 18 months implies that they are getting job experience, and exploring your options will also come in handy later. She also tells us that some people in their 20s are "red in bank accounts", meaning they are not in the financial position to invest. Given that you are 46, the author states that your expectations and experiences are outdated, and there are new rules to play by. Success is personal, which means there is no standard definition for it. What may or may not have worked for should not apply to everyone. What the author is trying to tell the readers is that a lot of people in their 20s (notice no apostrophe) do not yet know which career to settle for, and that is okay because having an open mind and not settling for something for the sake of settling is much more beneficial to your future. The fact that she mentions that people in their 20s change jobs every 18 months implies that they are getting job experience, and exploring your options will also come in handy later. She also tells us that some people in their 20s are "red in bank accounts", meaning they are not in the financial position to invest. Given that you are 46, the author states that your expectations and experiences are outdated, and there are new rules to play by. Success is personal, which means there is no standard definition for it. What may or may not have worked for should not apply to everyone.

]]> By: carak http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-223022 carak Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:05:24 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-223022 i like this post. thanks. i like this post. thanks.

]]> By: Free yourself from the delusion that safe paths are possible « Chris Coppola's Blog http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-222908 Free yourself from the delusion that safe paths are possible « Chris Coppola's Blog Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:26:43 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-222908 [...] the quest for a safe, beaten path that will work for your own life is an empty quest. We are in a new era of work, and you get to make your own path. It’s exciting. Even in a down [...] [...] the quest for a safe, beaten path that will work for your own life is an empty quest. We are in a new era of work, and you get to make your own path. It's exciting. Even in a down [...]

]]> By: Debbie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-222747 Debbie Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:28:48 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-222747 My 20 something son has gone to community college twice - once 2 years ago and once this semester. Both times he stopped going to his classes and ended up either withdrawing or failing. This was after he received a 100% Pell Grant (which gave him several thousand dollars for living expenses, as well as paying for the classes and books). He has had 3 very good jobs since he graduated 2-1/2 years ago - but lost all 3 because he couldn't seem to go more than 2 or 3 days a week. He doesn't have an interest in anything, and when he does show some interest - it is short-lived. He has no motivation. I've tried everything to help him/get him help, with no success. I'm very wary of kicking him out of the house because he vegetates towards bad people/things. But, I'm at my wits end. To me - this is what 'lost' means. I'm 55 now. I never really knew what I wanted to do. But, I just kept doing - whatever - through the years. But, I made money, supported myself and my son. I find my son's total lack of responsibility (even though, I DID teach him these things growing up)absolutely unexceptable. If he would only do SOMETHING - I would support him in his endeavors fully. But, unfortunately, and to my dismay, he is doing NOTHING!!!!! My 20 something son has gone to community college twice – once 2 years ago and once this semester. Both times he stopped going to his classes and ended up either withdrawing or failing. This was after he received a 100% Pell Grant (which gave him several thousand dollars for living expenses, as well as paying for the classes and books). He has had 3 very good jobs since he graduated 2-1/2 years ago – but lost all 3 because he couldn't seem to go more than 2 or 3 days a week.

He doesn't have an interest in anything, and when he does show some interest – it is short-lived. He has no motivation. I've tried everything to help him/get him help, with no success. I'm very wary of kicking him out of the house because he vegetates towards bad people/things. But, I'm at my wits end. To me – this is what 'lost' means.

I'm 55 now. I never really knew what I wanted to do. But, I just kept doing – whatever – through the years. But, I made money, supported myself and my son. I find my son's total lack of responsibility (even though, I DID teach him these things growing up)absolutely unexceptable. If he would only do SOMETHING – I would support him in his endeavors fully. But, unfortunately, and to my dismay, he is doing NOTHING!!!!!

]]> By: Mike http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-220150 Mike Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:38:01 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-220150 "A loser is someone who lets someone else tell them what success looks like." Did you just call all your readers losers and get away with it? Classic. "A loser is someone who lets someone else tell them what success looks like."

Did you just call all your readers losers and get away with it? Classic.

]]> By: I need to represent | The Business Card Blog http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-201401 I need to represent | The Business Card Blog Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:52:01 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-201401 [...] home with my parents [this post helps me feel [...] [...] home with my parents [this post helps me feel [...]

]]> By: Scott http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-190399 Scott Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:09:25 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-190399 While I agree that your 20's should be a time of exploration of both the world and yourself, I have to disagree with the irresponsible way that the author painted it. As several posers already stated, you can travel, do something you love, take time off, pursue your passions but in a responsible way. I have worked with and personally know many of these so called "lost twenty something’s", many of them hitch hike around the country sleeping on strangers sofa's if they are lucky, under a bridge if they are not. They can be seen begging for money on the downtown streets or maybe just a cigarette. They have a way of rationalizing just about anything, much the same way you did in your post. Flash forward 10 yrs and take a look at what you have, a 30yr old with bad teeth, a few tats that are a bit embarrassing now, an earlobe that will need surgery to repair, several unpaid parking tickets, a drunk and disorderly, drunk in public or possession charge, an estranged relationship with every family member that has bailed them out, lent them money, or had something stolen from them, or had not heard from them in years. Sure some of these young adults do find their way eventually, but many more seem to slip thru the cracks. Please stop making this passage in life sound so romantic, and give a balanced view. Thanks, and good luck to all While I agree that your 20's should be a time of exploration of both the world and yourself, I have to disagree with the irresponsible way that the author painted it. As several posers already stated, you can travel, do something you love, take time off, pursue your passions but in a responsible way. I have worked with and personally know many of these so called "lost twenty something’s", many of them hitch hike around the country sleeping on strangers sofa's if they are lucky, under a bridge if they are not. They can be seen begging for money on the downtown streets or maybe just a cigarette. They have a way of rationalizing just about anything, much the same way you did in your post.
Flash forward 10 yrs and take a look at what you have, a 30yr old with bad teeth, a few tats that are a bit embarrassing now, an earlobe that will need surgery to repair, several unpaid parking tickets, a drunk and disorderly, drunk in public or possession charge, an estranged relationship with every family member that has bailed them out, lent them money, or had something stolen from them, or had not heard from them in years. Sure some of these young adults do find their way eventually, but many more seem to slip thru the cracks. Please stop making this passage in life sound so romantic, and give a balanced view. Thanks, and good luck to all

]]> By: Michael http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-3/#comment-186680 Michael Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:51:40 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-186680 incredible post, loved it(that it beeing 22 myself) incredible post, loved it(that it beeing 22 myself)

]]> By: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. | Bizzy Women http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-2/#comment-181351 If you’re not growing, you’re dying. | Bizzy Women Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:12:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-181351 [...] my wonderful, good, stable parents are worried because they don’t know where I’ll end up. And they definitely think that I am “lost” on my way to my real [...] [...] my wonderful, good, stable parents are worried because they don’t know where I’ll end up. And they definitely think that I am “lost” on my way to my real [...]

]]> By: If you’re not growing, you’re dying. « Politicoholic by Nisha Chittal http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/comment-page-2/#comment-181220 If you’re not growing, you’re dying. « Politicoholic by Nisha Chittal Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:52:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/11/15/stop-worrying-that-your-twentysomething-is-lost/#comment-181220 [...] good, stable parents are worried because they don’t know where I’ll end up. And they definitely think that I am “lost” on my way to my real [...] [...] good, stable parents are worried because they don't know where I'll end up. And they definitely think that I am "lost" on my way to my real [...]

]]>