Every once in a while we reach a point of satisfaction. We feel a
sense of accomplishment for hitting a goal we set out to achieve. We
wouldn’t be human if we didn’t have goals, and we definitely wouldn’t be
human if we didn’t desire more.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about being a “young
professional”. I’m talking about graduating from college, starting a
career of your choice, and learning, feeling.Now with a definition like that, most of us in our mid-twenties to mid-thirties wouldn’t qualify to be called “young professionals”. We graduated from college/graduate school but certainly arent in a career that follows our education. And with an economy like this, where most of us are underemployed, using the word “professional” to describe us feels like an insult.
I hear the condescension now, screams of “get over it, we had it rougher than you.” Why don’t you “baby-boomers” get over with your career and just retire so that us “young-professionals” can move up to attain what we worked hard for, what we studied hard for? To achieve what most of you who raised us to achieve, to begin a job that sprouts a career.
In the Presidential Election of 2012 there was a lot of talk about fairness. “The rich don’t pay their fair share of taxes.” “Wall Street got bailed out but Main Street didn’t.” “Healthcare is a universal right.” “If you worked hard you should be able to enjoy the benefits of Social Security.” “It’s not fair that after you spent years fighting a war for your country that you have to come home only to fight for a decent job.”
Those arguments are valid and should be debated, but what about us “young-professionals”? Did you forget, we’re the next future of the country not those kids in K through Twelve, they have a long way to go still. Is it fair that you ignore our plight in favor of debating “baby-genius programs”?
Who do I mean by “you”? I mean You! You the baby-boomer who passed the retirement age but won’t recognize reality and retire. Grandpa, if you haven’t made it to executive level yet, you should call it a night. The truth is that you’ll never get there in that company so stop the denial because it’s hurting, my, your grandson’s career development. Just like you want me to shut up about this piece, I want you to shut up about how the Great Recession cut your 401K in half. Retire.
I’m talking about You, the politician who rambles on and on about terrorism that kills less than .05% of the population annually yet you can’t compromise on legislation to build the economy that helps business, which in turn helps me, the voter. Do you know how much harm underemployment is doing to my community? I don’t know exactly but I bet the percentage is way higher than terrorism. Sorry, I forgot that the only voters that matter to you are those receiving Social Security, Medicare etc because apparently “young-professionals” dont vote a.k.a. stroke your ego with a ballot or cash bag that you deem worthy enough to pay attention to.
I’m talking about You! The business that keeps on yapping about “this crop of applicants don’t have the necessary skills we need” so instead we’re eliminating the position so that 55 year old Ted whose been u doing the same tasks for the past 55 years can absorb this workload without a raise in salary because this way we “save the company money”. And by the way, damned sure that any 23 year old can use communication technology better than the half baked Communications Directors who sent out that message about “us” not having “the necessary skills.”
An I’m talking about You! My fellow “young-professional” who refuses to vote for real people who want real change. You, my fellow “young-professional” who chooses to stay mute on our plight. And you, my fellow “young-professional” who isn’t feeling what I’m feeling because things are in your favor, just shut the fuck up with your whack “advice” about how to get ahead. We did everything you did, the good education, the internships, the internships, it kind of rhymes with slaveships and worked part-time while in college. All that hard work only to get a job as a bartender. All that hard work only to graduate from college to move in with more roommates. Sorry, I prefer to stay at home, the next step after college should be your own single bedroom place or studio. Quite frankly my friend, you’re just luckier so join our ranks or fall with the old guard.
All we want is to achieve our goals just like you, the boomer, the politician, the business, the “young-professional”. All we want is to meet that milestone.
