2008 Woodie Awards
Today's youth needs to wake up and smell the recession
Ellie Marks
Contributing Writer
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Opinion
The housing market is crashing down, the dollar is plunging and the stock market is definitely not at its best. Asia is booming, the Middle east is now investing in us, and we are heading to a recession -- something no American wants to hear but has been hearing for the past few months.
I find myself thinking what does it mean to me, a junior in college? Well, the answer is it should mean everything to every American, including us, the average college students. You may not feel a significant difference in your life just yet, but realize that even going on a trip to Europe now is increasingly more expensive than just a year ago, and that is due to the plunge of the dollar. And let's not even broach the rising gas prices issue. Did any one ever think that the Canadian dollar would be worth more than the U.S dollar? I know I didn't. What can we, the college students, do to improve the situation in this country? I believe that knowledge and education go hand in hand and are the fundamental keys to our success. If we do not know what is behind a possible recession, why the housing market is crashing and what the Federal Reserve System is, how can we improve our economy? These days most news broadcasts and front pages of newspapers have some headline about how our country's economy is in distress. Yet the youth of today are clearly more concerned with celebrity news than pressing current events. But how will Hollywood news make us a better nation? How will that help our gross domestic product grow and how will it help us fight terrorism? I doubt that reading about Britney Spears or Paris Hilton will increase our needed knowledge for a better and more equipped United States of America, ready to face the ever changing world with a true plan.
Another problem I believe we face is that with being celebrity obsessed, we have become a spoiled nation. What I mean by that is most of us these days try to imitate celebrity life far too closely. We buy Coach bags, Versace sunglasses and we want our parents to purchase us a BMW when we graduate from high school, when most of us have never even held a full-time job. We buy flat screen TVs, rack up an estimated average of $8,000 in credit card debt, and, sadly enough, Americans in the age range of 25-34 (right after college) now boast the second highest rate of bankruptcy in the country.
We need to wake up and smell the recession and not panic, but rather grow up and live responsibly. Spending is good, as it keeps the economy moving, but let's spend our money wisely, invest it wisely and save so that maybe one day we can buy that house with the white fence.
After all, America is the land of endless opportunities.
I find myself thinking what does it mean to me, a junior in college? Well, the answer is it should mean everything to every American, including us, the average college students. You may not feel a significant difference in your life just yet, but realize that even going on a trip to Europe now is increasingly more expensive than just a year ago, and that is due to the plunge of the dollar. And let's not even broach the rising gas prices issue. Did any one ever think that the Canadian dollar would be worth more than the U.S dollar? I know I didn't. What can we, the college students, do to improve the situation in this country? I believe that knowledge and education go hand in hand and are the fundamental keys to our success. If we do not know what is behind a possible recession, why the housing market is crashing and what the Federal Reserve System is, how can we improve our economy? These days most news broadcasts and front pages of newspapers have some headline about how our country's economy is in distress. Yet the youth of today are clearly more concerned with celebrity news than pressing current events. But how will Hollywood news make us a better nation? How will that help our gross domestic product grow and how will it help us fight terrorism? I doubt that reading about Britney Spears or Paris Hilton will increase our needed knowledge for a better and more equipped United States of America, ready to face the ever changing world with a true plan.
Another problem I believe we face is that with being celebrity obsessed, we have become a spoiled nation. What I mean by that is most of us these days try to imitate celebrity life far too closely. We buy Coach bags, Versace sunglasses and we want our parents to purchase us a BMW when we graduate from high school, when most of us have never even held a full-time job. We buy flat screen TVs, rack up an estimated average of $8,000 in credit card debt, and, sadly enough, Americans in the age range of 25-34 (right after college) now boast the second highest rate of bankruptcy in the country.
We need to wake up and smell the recession and not panic, but rather grow up and live responsibly. Spending is good, as it keeps the economy moving, but let's spend our money wisely, invest it wisely and save so that maybe one day we can buy that house with the white fence.
After all, America is the land of endless opportunities.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Robert
posted 2/26/08 @ 2:57 PM CST
Great article!I think you've made some great points.
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