I haven’t had a chance yet to read your writing beyond this essay, but I wish you the best. I am curious what led you to live in England. As an American who has lived abroad for awhile earlier in life, I understand your thoughts on how the US is perceived as abroad. But I will say the the messy political landscape and entitlement do exist but that’s probably not unique to the US. No matter where we go, we will encounter the paradox of governments which may be corrupt or in various ways not representative of the average citizen. We also see humanity drifting from the values that once provided a stronger foundation. It says in the Word men will be lovers of self. That’s so true and fairly universal sadly.
I worked in China. I absolutely loved the people who became dear friends. But there are trends in every country that may bother us. We can’t generalize really, though it is human to do so. Loved your example of asking others in Zumba to pray and the other Americans who offered you a ride in Uber with them.
I think being a young person in America today would be hard. Inflation is rampant. People are struggling to make it. I am sad that housing prices are so high. You mentioned student loans crushing people. I understand but have mixed feelings. Many study topics that have no career path. They often lack any work experience. It’s sad they borrowed money to finance their dreams. More people are understanding trades offer a way to earn a great living. Personal responsibility used to be understood. In my era and in a farming community, we saved for college by working very hard. Loans were seen as a very last resort and kept to a bare minimum. If we had to borrow at all, we knew it was our responsibility to pay them back. But I have met young folks who bought the latest iPhone and lived extravagantly on student loans and then expected everyone to bail them out. It’s just sad to see how culture has changed. I don’t anticipate the current trends in America to be very sustainable. But I always remember shared humanity crosses borders and bridges the things that divide us. We can mentor and encourage the next generation. I don’t put my hope in current politicians though I pray for and support the rare people with integrity who feel called to serve. My friend recently became mayor of our city. I admire her courage. Take care and enjoy your adventures.
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I wanted to address one thing that you mentioned regarding the student loans because yours is a very valid opinion which I hear often, but I’d like to offer a different perspective. (Also, just because it’s very difficult to convey tone over the internet, please picture me saying this with a smile and total respect, probably while sharing a cup of tea and biscuits with you. ☺️)
So firstly, I specifically didn’t mention anything about things such as Biden’s proposal to cancel out student loans. I often hear the argument (again, a completely valid one) about personal accountability when it comes to student loans, but I didn’t actually state that students are not personally accountable for their loans. My issue is with the entire higher education system in general, the product of which I do believe impacts America as a whole as well as crippling its young people. And to do that, I’d have to share my own experience:
While I 100% agree with you that trade schools and the like should be promoted far more than they have been, and also that there are far too many degrees which do not lead to employability, the reality is that, for my generation at least, we were sold the idea that we would not be employable without a degree. And post-uni, I can confirm that this has been largely true. Many entry-level jobs still require a Bachelor’s degree at minimum, and the person’s Major is irrelevant— employers simply insist that you have a degree because they’re so lucrative. It’s become of a bit of a snowball situation.
So at 18, my peers and I were very much brainwashed to believe that we had no other choice but to go to university if we wanted any sort of career. Trade schools were barely mentioned as an option. And the expense of university was beyond what an 18-year-old could have saved for. I was a straight-A student and very academically-inclined. I desperately wanted to attend university because I loved studying and education. But even with scholarships (which I was offered), to afford a degree in the US would have cost me $120,000 at best and $60,000 at worst. So saving to go to college, when you’re told you can’t even get a good job without a college degree, leaves you in seemingly no other position than to take out student loans. It’s a “chicken or egg” paradox. This narrow path that we were pushed down has now left many millennials with such crippling student debt that the economy at large suffers because graduates can’t afford to invest back into the economy. In essence, whether Joe the plumber’s taxes are being used to expunge student loans or Joe the plumber “pays” by virtue of not being hired since his potential customers can’t afford him after making their student loan payment, society as a whole suffers. That said, I’m not inherently implying that other people are responsible for paying off a student’s debt, but I do believe that the universities and their extortionate fees have a lot to answer for. In essence, the entire system is corrupt, and it hurts young people, it hurts the job economy, it robs us of people learning trades, and it financially cripples those who actually are academic and wanted to attend college for all the right reasons.
Lastly, I completely hear you about the example you mentioned of students taking out massive loans and then using that money to buy the latest iPhone. Again, a corrupt system endorses this, and it’s completely wrong. Higher education should not cost $40K a year. Students should not be able to take out such large maintenance loans which can be spent on unnecessary luxuries. High schools and universities which have pushed students in this direction have a lot to answer for, as does the government for handing out loans like candy, (especially to people who are not scholastically-minded and simply attended uni because they thought they had no other option).
I personally lived very frugally as a student. I worked two jobs. I studied hard and graduated with top grades. I saved as much as I could, and I truly wanted to attend uni because I was an academic at heart. And I am still $60K in debt and am struggling to pay it off. Other countries have managed to develop systems that don’t do this to their young people, and I simply wish that the US could follow suit in the spirit of truly promoting the American dream. ☺️
Again, thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and I appreciated your kindness and encouragement as well. You asked why I moved to England. I wrote a whole post on that called “The unbearable weight of Home” if you’d like to read it. And thank you so much for reading and engaging here. Bless you! ♥️
Christina, I wish we could sit and have a good visit over tea. Thank you for sharing your story with me and this valuable perspective. I apologize if my comment sounded judgmental. Like you, I loved learning. I also got scholarships. I was also reflecting on how different things are now. College prices are ridiculous oftentimes and I do understand all of your points. I actually taught college classes in China and the US and have a particular soft place in my heart for young people. I agree with so much you said and understand the bigger picture too. I often say I feel bad that young people trying to get established in life these days face a hard situation. I raised cattle and saved every penny for college. I worked on the farm, babysat, milked goats and had a full time job for a corporation every summer once I was 16. I recognize I was blessed to grow up with work opportunities and a farm where I could raise livestock. I worked and studied really hard for college because I wanted a better future. I think we do a great disservice to young people by not giving them more opportunities to gain practical work experience. My husband also worked in higher education for a decade and quit because of the wasteful way they managed things. He didn’t feel educational quality was maintained either. So I agree with your assessment. I have taught at universities, community colleges and a medical college in China. I love college students and wish the world were an easier place to get established these days. I am reminded how blessed I was to grow up when I did. Gas prices and housing costs, and food (we grew most of ours) didn’t make it impossible to save and plan for the future. I pray that you will find joy and good opportunities there. I will read your backstory soon ☺️🇺🇸🏡. Thanks for the visit!!
What a life you’ve had, Susan! No need at all to apologise. I’ve really enjoyed hearing your perspective. I too taught at university (only one here in the UK), but it creates such a soft spot for students and young people. I agree with everything you just said. There are little practical opportunities for young people to gain hands on work experience, and I think that’s part of why they assume that uni is their only option. Work experience opens up so many new ways of thinking and understanding the world. Growing up working on a farm sounds so incredible and enriching! I pray that you continue to get to share the wisdom and insights from your life experience with younger generations.
Thank you Christina. I am glad we have connected. I have multiple sclerosis so my years of working full time were cut short. But I eventually got my masters in counseling and still see some clients. I love helping people heal and grow. I’m writing a book. One thing I have always believed in is mentoring others and also finding elders to be my mentors. I have women in their 90s, 80s, 70s and 60s who speak into my life. I look forward to following your journey here. If I can ever be of encouragement, reach out anytime. I am 58 but I don’t think we ever lose our youthful perspective if we spend time with younger people. Bless you!
Thank you, Phil. I do not see myself as without a country. The UK is my country and home. But I will always be sad to have had to leave my homeland behind.
I was married in August 1999 to a wonderful Japanese lady, in Virginia and we immediately applied for her Green Card, etc. & wove our way through the INS system…waiting, submitting applications, paying fees, getting fingerprinted, being interviewed & she was “legal.” Then, at the 5 year mark, she applied for citizenship. I was with her at every step. In 2005 she attended a group Naturalization ceremony just outside of DC, it was like a mini-UN, diversity. As they took the oath, she had to renounce her Japanese citizenship. She did that. On July 4, 2005, she was Baptized. Since then, we’ve visited Japan 8 times. Each time we return, she is ambivalent. Mostly longing for the food. When she renounced her Japanese Citizenship, I immediately recalled Philip Nolan, the fictional character who also renounced his citizenship. As POTUS BHO has frequently quoted the Declaration, “…in order to form a more perfect Union,…” the effort here, in my opinion, is to slide the index in the direction of “better,” not “worse.” Let me know if I can send a Ray Charles video. Long Live your King! May God Save the King!
I haven’t had a chance yet to read your writing beyond this essay, but I wish you the best. I am curious what led you to live in England. As an American who has lived abroad for awhile earlier in life, I understand your thoughts on how the US is perceived as abroad. But I will say the the messy political landscape and entitlement do exist but that’s probably not unique to the US. No matter where we go, we will encounter the paradox of governments which may be corrupt or in various ways not representative of the average citizen. We also see humanity drifting from the values that once provided a stronger foundation. It says in the Word men will be lovers of self. That’s so true and fairly universal sadly.
I worked in China. I absolutely loved the people who became dear friends. But there are trends in every country that may bother us. We can’t generalize really, though it is human to do so. Loved your example of asking others in Zumba to pray and the other Americans who offered you a ride in Uber with them.
I think being a young person in America today would be hard. Inflation is rampant. People are struggling to make it. I am sad that housing prices are so high. You mentioned student loans crushing people. I understand but have mixed feelings. Many study topics that have no career path. They often lack any work experience. It’s sad they borrowed money to finance their dreams. More people are understanding trades offer a way to earn a great living. Personal responsibility used to be understood. In my era and in a farming community, we saved for college by working very hard. Loans were seen as a very last resort and kept to a bare minimum. If we had to borrow at all, we knew it was our responsibility to pay them back. But I have met young folks who bought the latest iPhone and lived extravagantly on student loans and then expected everyone to bail them out. It’s just sad to see how culture has changed. I don’t anticipate the current trends in America to be very sustainable. But I always remember shared humanity crosses borders and bridges the things that divide us. We can mentor and encourage the next generation. I don’t put my hope in current politicians though I pray for and support the rare people with integrity who feel called to serve. My friend recently became mayor of our city. I admire her courage. Take care and enjoy your adventures.
Hi Susan. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I wanted to address one thing that you mentioned regarding the student loans because yours is a very valid opinion which I hear often, but I’d like to offer a different perspective. (Also, just because it’s very difficult to convey tone over the internet, please picture me saying this with a smile and total respect, probably while sharing a cup of tea and biscuits with you. ☺️)
So firstly, I specifically didn’t mention anything about things such as Biden’s proposal to cancel out student loans. I often hear the argument (again, a completely valid one) about personal accountability when it comes to student loans, but I didn’t actually state that students are not personally accountable for their loans. My issue is with the entire higher education system in general, the product of which I do believe impacts America as a whole as well as crippling its young people. And to do that, I’d have to share my own experience:
While I 100% agree with you that trade schools and the like should be promoted far more than they have been, and also that there are far too many degrees which do not lead to employability, the reality is that, for my generation at least, we were sold the idea that we would not be employable without a degree. And post-uni, I can confirm that this has been largely true. Many entry-level jobs still require a Bachelor’s degree at minimum, and the person’s Major is irrelevant— employers simply insist that you have a degree because they’re so lucrative. It’s become of a bit of a snowball situation.
So at 18, my peers and I were very much brainwashed to believe that we had no other choice but to go to university if we wanted any sort of career. Trade schools were barely mentioned as an option. And the expense of university was beyond what an 18-year-old could have saved for. I was a straight-A student and very academically-inclined. I desperately wanted to attend university because I loved studying and education. But even with scholarships (which I was offered), to afford a degree in the US would have cost me $120,000 at best and $60,000 at worst. So saving to go to college, when you’re told you can’t even get a good job without a college degree, leaves you in seemingly no other position than to take out student loans. It’s a “chicken or egg” paradox. This narrow path that we were pushed down has now left many millennials with such crippling student debt that the economy at large suffers because graduates can’t afford to invest back into the economy. In essence, whether Joe the plumber’s taxes are being used to expunge student loans or Joe the plumber “pays” by virtue of not being hired since his potential customers can’t afford him after making their student loan payment, society as a whole suffers. That said, I’m not inherently implying that other people are responsible for paying off a student’s debt, but I do believe that the universities and their extortionate fees have a lot to answer for. In essence, the entire system is corrupt, and it hurts young people, it hurts the job economy, it robs us of people learning trades, and it financially cripples those who actually are academic and wanted to attend college for all the right reasons.
Lastly, I completely hear you about the example you mentioned of students taking out massive loans and then using that money to buy the latest iPhone. Again, a corrupt system endorses this, and it’s completely wrong. Higher education should not cost $40K a year. Students should not be able to take out such large maintenance loans which can be spent on unnecessary luxuries. High schools and universities which have pushed students in this direction have a lot to answer for, as does the government for handing out loans like candy, (especially to people who are not scholastically-minded and simply attended uni because they thought they had no other option).
I personally lived very frugally as a student. I worked two jobs. I studied hard and graduated with top grades. I saved as much as I could, and I truly wanted to attend uni because I was an academic at heart. And I am still $60K in debt and am struggling to pay it off. Other countries have managed to develop systems that don’t do this to their young people, and I simply wish that the US could follow suit in the spirit of truly promoting the American dream. ☺️
Again, thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and I appreciated your kindness and encouragement as well. You asked why I moved to England. I wrote a whole post on that called “The unbearable weight of Home” if you’d like to read it. And thank you so much for reading and engaging here. Bless you! ♥️
Christina, I wish we could sit and have a good visit over tea. Thank you for sharing your story with me and this valuable perspective. I apologize if my comment sounded judgmental. Like you, I loved learning. I also got scholarships. I was also reflecting on how different things are now. College prices are ridiculous oftentimes and I do understand all of your points. I actually taught college classes in China and the US and have a particular soft place in my heart for young people. I agree with so much you said and understand the bigger picture too. I often say I feel bad that young people trying to get established in life these days face a hard situation. I raised cattle and saved every penny for college. I worked on the farm, babysat, milked goats and had a full time job for a corporation every summer once I was 16. I recognize I was blessed to grow up with work opportunities and a farm where I could raise livestock. I worked and studied really hard for college because I wanted a better future. I think we do a great disservice to young people by not giving them more opportunities to gain practical work experience. My husband also worked in higher education for a decade and quit because of the wasteful way they managed things. He didn’t feel educational quality was maintained either. So I agree with your assessment. I have taught at universities, community colleges and a medical college in China. I love college students and wish the world were an easier place to get established these days. I am reminded how blessed I was to grow up when I did. Gas prices and housing costs, and food (we grew most of ours) didn’t make it impossible to save and plan for the future. I pray that you will find joy and good opportunities there. I will read your backstory soon ☺️🇺🇸🏡. Thanks for the visit!!
What a life you’ve had, Susan! No need at all to apologise. I’ve really enjoyed hearing your perspective. I too taught at university (only one here in the UK), but it creates such a soft spot for students and young people. I agree with everything you just said. There are little practical opportunities for young people to gain hands on work experience, and I think that’s part of why they assume that uni is their only option. Work experience opens up so many new ways of thinking and understanding the world. Growing up working on a farm sounds so incredible and enriching! I pray that you continue to get to share the wisdom and insights from your life experience with younger generations.
Thank you Christina. I am glad we have connected. I have multiple sclerosis so my years of working full time were cut short. But I eventually got my masters in counseling and still see some clients. I love helping people heal and grow. I’m writing a book. One thing I have always believed in is mentoring others and also finding elders to be my mentors. I have women in their 90s, 80s, 70s and 60s who speak into my life. I look forward to following your journey here. If I can ever be of encouragement, reach out anytime. I am 58 but I don’t think we ever lose our youthful perspective if we spend time with younger people. Bless you!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZYH8v42a2w
Ray Charles with images of America
I read this story as a lad. I was saddened after reading it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Without_a_Country
May God bless you.
Thank you, Phil. I do not see myself as without a country. The UK is my country and home. But I will always be sad to have had to leave my homeland behind.
I was married in August 1999 to a wonderful Japanese lady, in Virginia and we immediately applied for her Green Card, etc. & wove our way through the INS system…waiting, submitting applications, paying fees, getting fingerprinted, being interviewed & she was “legal.” Then, at the 5 year mark, she applied for citizenship. I was with her at every step. In 2005 she attended a group Naturalization ceremony just outside of DC, it was like a mini-UN, diversity. As they took the oath, she had to renounce her Japanese citizenship. She did that. On July 4, 2005, she was Baptized. Since then, we’ve visited Japan 8 times. Each time we return, she is ambivalent. Mostly longing for the food. When she renounced her Japanese Citizenship, I immediately recalled Philip Nolan, the fictional character who also renounced his citizenship. As POTUS BHO has frequently quoted the Declaration, “…in order to form a more perfect Union,…” the effort here, in my opinion, is to slide the index in the direction of “better,” not “worse.” Let me know if I can send a Ray Charles video. Long Live your King! May God Save the King!
The Man Without a Country, free book, short story, fiction
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/15868/15868-h/15868-h.htm