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I am 23 years old and will be moving off my parents' suburban Washington state farm in the next 2 weeks after living with them for a year after finishing my 4-year degree in Alaska.  

I feel like one issue with the slowing pace of young adult launching has to do in part with the K-12 education system that seems to stifle the potential of young adults age 16-18.  I was fortunate to benefit from the Running Start program which enabled me to finish my AA degree while in high school, other students in my area were able to pursue nursing, automotive, and other vocation programs as well in their last two years of high school.  Those of us who did this seemed much more equipped to "launch" into careers, advanced education, or even just independent living after the age of 18 than those who followed the traditional high school course.  It seemed to teach us responsibility and demonstrate a larger spectrum of options than what is shown to students in a traditional public high school.  

Unfortunately, my fast-pace college education pegged me as graduating in the heart of the Great Recession, but even then within 6 months of living back with my parents I found a good job and within a year I am now making preparations for moving into an apartment in the next two weeks.  

I think that parents opening their homes to their young adult children is an essential safety net for millennials considering issues like the job market and rising cost of higher education.  It is also a great opportunity to get to know one's parents as adults.  Nevertheless, I think it is essential for us to reevaluate some of the public policy infrastructure that may be holding our nation's young adults back. 

posted 2 years, 4 months ago
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