Generational Decisions

Trayvon had to find his own way.

Generational Decisions

Trayvon had heard it from everyone else's parents, including his own, while growing up. Online sites and social media reinforced the same message, but the world was different now. The economy had shifted toward a new norm, and he was caught in a trap that wouldn't work like it did for the older generation.


He'd never noticed it before, but only two of those parents actually succeeded with the advice they'd given. Those two parents attended college right after high school, got their degrees, and found decent jobs that paid well in their fields.


Their success inspired him, so he attended college and received his degree, amassing hefty student loan debt along the way. Upon graduation, the job he wished for was becoming obsolete. Technology had advanced while he was in school, so he was forced to live with his parents after graduation working at a factory job, and the guilt caused a knot to fester in his stomach.


A coworker approached him one day and offered him a task which paid very well. Upon its completion, he'd receive enough money to climb from under his debt. The caveat was the task was illegal, so he had a choice to make.


After a day of contemplation, he chose not to perform the task.


Climbing out of debt while free to walk the streets was better than climbing from a jail cell cot with others that made the wrong choice. Trayvon never divulged the offer to anyone and took on a second part-time job. He did so well at his part-time job, that he was offered a full-time position with a much higher salary. His stomach knot loosened, and he aggressively chipped away at his debt until he was able to move out.