The "entitlement generation"

You know what they're calling us? The "entitlement generation." For the first time, basically in our short American history, parents are cranking out children who are probably not going to earn more than their parents. But of course, they're still accustomed to living the way they grew up. After working in a steady balance of studying and slacking, cramming and coasting, learning and leisuring our ways through a four-year life-altering experience we affectionately call, "college" and now we're out on our own, fending for ourselves and eating spaghetti four nights a week.

Experts are noticing a pattern of twenty-something's coming out of college, demanding cushy jobs with higher pay, benefits, and responsibility than most companies are willing to shell out. Personally, I haven't seen a job classified as "entry level" that I really thought I would be happy doing. But I am (literally) banking on myself to make some serious moves in life. And nothing worth having comes easy.

Nine to five knocks out a pretty big chunk of your day. Seems obvious, but the way your day is structured with college, it's just so much more varied and every day is filled with globs of free time. Now, it's ridiculous how much the days in the middle of the week can blend together. I've missed three days of work since I started in September and every day off is more memorable than any random desk job fest. I stayed home once because it was Halloween (but nothing to do with the holiday, I overslept), once because I was legitimately sick, and once to spend time with Brigid. My point is, I remember all of those days vividly, and I can't say that about all of the days spent at work. What I'm doing at work isn't remedial; it pays decently and is good experience and a good portfolio-boast. I just think that a portion of your life that you dedicate that much time to should be meaningful. And not all of the hours I'm logging seem to be that. I don't see a valid counter argument to that

People keep making the obvious observation that I live in as close of a college house as you can get; it should be the easiest transition possible. As Louie points out, we're a house of five guys with five college degrees but we can't even keep our kitchen clean. Yes, when we're all home a lot of the time it feels like I'm back at Iowa. But it's seldom that we're all home, it doesn't even happen once a week, and when we're not, we're often bogged down in office life or adulthood responsibilities. I mean, I've adjusted by now, but by no means am I complacent.

I don't feel entitled to having things a certain way. I just feel that as an intelligent person, I should live up to what I'm capable of and not let any excuse dictate otherwise. Lately, I've been noticing there's not as much that's in my control as I originally may have thought. And I've been trying to figure out signs and follow or hold on to the things I feel strongest about.