Time to Pretend

After my last post I couldn't stop repeating that last question I posed, "What are our alternatives?" It just went over and over in my head. How can 20-somethings of today avoid the basic setbacks of the current economic slump? There has to be a way.

Firstly, let me just say that I can't (yet) resign myself to jobs that sound awful just for the sake of having a job. I've got at least another month in me to seek positions that could actually expand my skill set in a way that makes me feel productive and fulfilled. Using the economy as an excuse for laziness when it comes to job-hunting is too easy. Not to say it's not difficult, but if you want something then it's like I just said... there has to be a way... to get it. So try, try, try. The economy is an excuse - just don't use it as one.

But let's just sayyy that as hard as we try to go after whatever it is we want, the economy throws us to the dogs. You're the first to get fired or you're almost hired but the corporate exec says "on second thought, we can't afford this." Or your project gets canceled three weeks in. Whatever. How do we 20-somethings support ourselves financially AND maintain our learning curve when there's no one out there who's willing to teach us?

Naturally, I did a little history research. How did young people do it in the 1930s? If history is in the process of repeating itself, then we might as well learn from history, itself. (pun?)

Here are some points to consider:
-The Great Depression really, really, sucked. Like. Really. Sucked.
-In large part, America recovered because of WWII... and something tells me that the Iraq war II isn't going to be as helpful this time around.
-According to some guy on the internet, "young adults lost confidence in themselves and lowered their ambitions" during the Great Depression, which sounds vaguely familiar to the current plight of 20-somethings. Other sites have noted that young adults became increasingly more interested in music and entertainment. (That explains my grandma's life long love of Big Bands) While still other young adults decided to further their education at colleges where they could continue to learn while getting jobs on campus to pay for room and board.

Ok, so there aren't a lot of articles that focus on the successful youths during the Depression. In fairness, I didn't spend a lot of time looking - BUT I've already reached a conclusion, and it's not "plastics" so feel free to keep reading.

The key, I think, is NOT to lose confidence and NOT to lower your ambition. The kids who acheived any kind of success after the depression were the kids who didn't resign themselves to it. Technology is so expansive right now, and that is something we have now that nobody had back in the 1930s. Our success through this economic slump is going to have to be mental.

If you're interested in finance but had to get a job flipping burgers or serving beer, you've got a whole slough of websites that will not only keep you in the know but that you can contribute to, which will make you feel like you're maintaining some kind of learning curve... and when you're at that next job interview you'll spend most of your time impressing the guy behind the desk because you never lost your ambition.

If you're looking to get into entertainment, even better. Not only will entertainment be in demand, but these days you can do it in short bursts through YouTube, for free, whenever you're not walking dogs for money. Resume building. Take advantage of your resources- they are out there and they are vast.

Set your sights high and stay informed. Stay confident. When you have to explain to yourself at your next job interview, you say "Yeah, I served beer and I walked dogs. But look at all of this stuff I contributed to that has to do with what you do. Because I want this." If that guy doesn't hire you he's an idiot.

It's probably not our only alternative to suffering through the economic slump, but hey, in theory, it's worth trying. Man this has been preachy. But at least I've soothed my own nerves. And let's face it, my posts are generally just a way to hear myself talk (in my head? through type?).

Now it's time to take my own advice. And if you take my advice, I expect full credit.