| With the cost of a college education at an all-time high, | | | | their job, they will have no savings to fall back on. If |
| most students will graduate from college with a huge | | | | they become sick or get injured, they will have no |
| debt. Additionally, new graduates frequently increase | | | | medical insurance. Few people can build for the future |
| that burden by purchasing a car, leasing an apartment | | | | (a family, a home) without adequate income and |
| and adding to their credit card debt. It's no wonder that | | | | savings. And what about retirement? Young adults |
| these young adults can feel like they are drowning in | | | | who are unable to save for retirement will never be |
| bills, payments and obligations. This is especially true | | | | able to retire. |
| when their first job does not pay enough to support | | | | Yes, an excess of money, can be the source of much |
| their needs and obligations. | | | | evil. However, on the other end of the spectrum, a |
| College students today must begin to look at "college | | | | serious lack of money is called poverty. Young adults, |
| success" from a more realistic and practical | | | | who have obtained a college degree, should not be |
| perspective. For most students, simply obtaining a | | | | living in poverty and should not be forever dependent |
| college education is no longer enough. College success | | | | on their parents for support. Since few students want |
| now means that a student has been able to launch his | | | | to live in poverty, the most aggressive students |
| her career by obtaining a great job, at a good salary, | | | | establish a plan and work hard to accomplish the |
| with an employer that holds out a future for them. This | | | | steps that will help to ensure a reasonable degree of |
| combination can bode well for their social, psychological | | | | financial success and independence. |
| and economic future. | | | | As Dr. Phil likes to say, "When you choose the |
| Of course, there are now and will always be students | | | | behavior, you choose the consequences." |
| who say that they place little value on economic | | | | It's this simple! What students do while they are in |
| security and success. That's fine, as long as they | | | | college will determine how much interest they will draw |
| understand, accept and can deal with the challenges | | | | from employers with the good paying jobs. |
| that go along with a severely limited income. Coming | | | | Since nobody owes them a living, college students |
| out of college with $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or more in | | | | who would like to obtain something more than a dead |
| college loans and then accepting a job that pays | | | | end job will choose to compete for, even fight and |
| around $10 an hour just won't reconcile very well. | | | | scratch for, the knowledge, skills, experiences and |
| Most parents are very much in tune with this stark | | | | accomplishments that can hold out a more financially |
| reality. They are well aware that education loans, living | | | | secure future. |
| expenses, car payments and credit card debt will have | | | | To compete effectively, students with higher ambitions |
| a significant impact on the lives of their children. | | | | design their college, community and employment |
| Hopefully, more students will come to recognize this | | | | experiences around the needs and expectations of |
| "practical reality" and will understand and accept this | | | | the best employers. These students understand that |
| fact early in their college experience. Early recognition | | | | they must give employers what they want. Students |
| will give them time to actively improve their chances | | | | who choose not to prepare in this way will never even |
| for finding and sustaining a career that will offer | | | | get into the game. |
| financial success. However, late recognition will most | | | | The college experience is an opportunity to learn, grow, |
| certainly get them started off on the wrong foot. | | | | mature and prepare for the future. Because they |
| Without an adequate income, young adults may be | | | | recognize that success is a choice, savvy students |
| stuck in an impossible battle. Which bills will they pay | | | | make the most of their time in college. Financial |
| this month and which ones will they let slide? They will | | | | security or financial distress, which will you choose? |
| find it difficult or impossible to get credit. If they lose | | | | |