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Public Service Announcement (PSA) for Emerging Adults
We need to take a moment to understand the difference between the older generations
and the ones of emerging adults. Each change in generations has a profound influence and a
separation of their parent's values and views. More than 50 years ago, the older generations
persisted of the Baby Boomer (1946-1964) to some degree but mainly Generation X 1965-1980).
These generations were considered to achieve adulthood when you were married, finished
school, obtained a secure job, started a family, and became financially independent (Cashion,
2019)
The emerging adults of Generation Y or the Millennials (1980-1996) and Generation Z
(1997-2010) possess inconsistent ethics with those of the older generations. These generations
are the benefactors of the four revolutions that the older generations undertook during the 1960s
and 1970s. These movements change what adulthood looks like today with the technology,
sexual revolutions, and the women's and youth movements (Arnett, 2015). The age of emerging
adults is not going to work and looking for a companion between 18 -23 like the older
generations. The significance of this is the age they believe they have endless possibilities, do
not need a path of direction, and have boundless potentials when they choose (Setran, 2016). One
reason for this is a knowledge within the workplace. To survive in this technology-driven world,
they need trade schools, post-secondary education, or formal education from a college or
university. The time to acquaint this training implies a different mindset than that of the older
generation. The behaviors of the older generation are not inserted in the emerging adult mind
until their late 20s. The exposure to individuals post-high school allows for establishing
relationships not available to the older generations. Emerging adults settle down later in life,
turning their 20s into an emerging sweet spot for the prospect of life partners (Jay, 2013).
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This assertiveness raises several concerns. The post-millennial midlife calamity is not the
same as the older generations. After years of work and raising a family, the older generation
looks to reward themselves. The emerging adults are in a crisis of not obtaining their career
desires and starting a family (Jay, 2013). The other is continuing their spiritual morels with God.
With popular culture and media promoting and encouraging immoral behaviors, less than 50% of
emerging adults remain committed to religion (Cashion, 2019). Don't let anyone look down on
you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in
faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
The video from J.J. Arnett provided an apparent reason for the question of why emerging
adults take longer to grow up. Meg Jay offered an interesting perspective but seemed to reinforce
the view of popular culture media. That not becoming an adult was acceptable. The advice I
learned was there is a larger time frame to contemplate life-altering decisions outside the
prescribed age that most older adults utilize.
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References
Arnett, J.J. (2015, April 28). Why does it take so long to grow up today?, [Video file].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv8KpQY0m6o
Cashion, V., Shriner, B., Shriner, M., & Mossler, R. A. (2019). Lifespan 360: Christian
perspectives on human development (2nd ed.; V. Cashion, Ed.). Kendall Hunt.
Jay, M. (2013, May 13). Why 30 is not the new 20 [Video file].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhhgI4tSMwc
Setran, D. (2016, April 12). Wisdom for Emerging Adults [Video file].
YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiYkjSAnTJc
The Holy Bible, new international version. (1984). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
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