"Their Way Of Life Is No Longer Available": People In Their 20s And 30s Are Sharing The Realities They Wish Their Parents Understood

"That college is not always the 'path.' Some people don't need to go to college immediately after high school. Sometimes a gap year is not enough. I have met lots of people from the various jobs I had who tried to go to college and found out it wasn't for them. Our generation is told to go to college or university or else it's the end of the world for us. There are so many paths you can take after high school like being in an apprenticeship, taking a basic full-time job, and so on."

"I'm asexual, and my mom keeps pressuring me to date casually. What she doesn't seem to understand is that causal dating - to a lot of people - means casual sex. While I believe it is possible to be ace and have casual sex, it just isn't something I personally feel comfortable with. As for why I'm not trying for a serious relationship right now, I'm graduating from college soon and likely moving to another state. And more importantly, I just don't feel like dating right now."

"The fear we have of school shootings and mass shootings in general. I still remember having a class discussion about leaving the room during a fire alarm a few weeks after Parkland. My mom didn't understand why I was so worried, because 'it probably won't happen at my school.' Statistically, it could have."

Many young people feel that college is not the only valid path after high school and that apprenticeships, full-time jobs, or longer breaks can be appropriate alternatives. Some young adults identify as asexual and resist pressure to pursue casual dating or sexual encounters, especially during major life transitions like graduation and relocation. Persistent fear of school shootings shapes everyday behavior and safety concerns for students. Expressing complaints about a partner can be a form of venting rather than a desire to end a relationship, but parents sometimes misinterpret those expressions.

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