Introduction
The current shape of the U.S. economy and the great economic slowdown has negatively impacted numerous families, children and students who dreamed of a bright future, particularly through education and academic. The recession has been so severe that most of the future plans with regard to education and other financial prospects have been badly hit. With the government struggling to keep the economy on rails, little support and intervention can be expected from it. Programs designed by the government to ensure equal education opportunities and enhanced education to teenagers and young students are in turmoil, due to the sorry states of economic affairs. With high rates of unemployment among American adolescents and “worse for black teenagers” the situation is really bad with “nearly four in ten black teenagers” facing problems of unemployment (Joyner, 2009).
This paper aims to analyse the ill effects of the recent recession which has occurred and the terrible consequence which families, students and children in America are currently facing. The paper explores the dreams and future hopes of families with regard to the academic and professional prospects of their children with the objective of determining the severity of the economic downturn and its terrible effects on the lives of numerous Americans and their hopes for a better future. The effect of the staggering economy of the United States is a phenomenon which has had global effects. As such, one can very well comprehend its effects on the residents of United States, especially those students who have had to forego their dreams of enhanced educational prospects due to the terrible recession which has caused turmoil in the entire world.
Main Body
The case of Shaneka Williams (Joyner, 2009) is an excellent example of the manner in which the youth and adolescent student population of America have been terribly hit. Williams completed her high school with flying colours with the hope that she would be able to become a part of the Clark Atlanta University for furthering her education. Williams had hoped to secure herself a place in the university on the basis of her “Lithonia High School class of 2008 tassel” which would enable her to continue her education at the Clark Atlanta University under the “touch the Future” Head start scholarship which would cover her maximum school costs.
However, “harsh economic realities” have “deferred” her dreams for the present and she is instead forced to forego her dreams due to the uncertainty of her father’s job and her mother’s failed attempts to start a business. Despite the opportunity to avail benefits from the endowment, Williams’’ family could not accept the offer due to the other expenses which they found to unaffordable, if she were to go to school. Williams has now opted for online courses through the Georgia Perimeter College and like other teenagers, seeks help from sources like “Young People Matter” a program originally designed to help American teens to acquire some financial independence through part time jobs which is a “herculean task” going by the current high rates of unemployment in the country.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, despite all odds, the current young generation has adjusted to the harsh realities and has learnt to make important sacrifices in life. Children and students are looking for schools and colleges “closer to home” while some are “delaying school” or even “going to less prestigious ones”, while some are taking up small jobs to “stay on track”, displaying optimism and faith in their future rather than pessimism and hopelessness.
References
Joyner Tammy. Financial bind puts college goal on hold. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Sunday, 2009.