Fear, Unemployment and layoffs are the words that come to mind and the realities being faced by young people in the current economy, yet that doesn't mean that they necessarily want to cut back on their spending.
I haven't been buying video games, but I have been buying micro brews .” Said Dorian Young, a 23 year old consultant living in Oakland, CA. “I'll go to the smaller independent businesses. Local cafés instead of Starbucks and Peet's.”
That isn't to say the current state of the economy isn't having an effect on young workers and college graduates.
“The state of the economy directly effects the well being of the people I care about.” Said Joshua Owings, a 22 year old musician and teacher living in Oakland, CA. “It's scary. Will I be able to find a job? Will the program that I work for at a public school be canceled due to budget cuts?”
Owings would like to start a local business in Oakland but he fears that because of current a future economic conditions getting a loan is near impossible. For Owings, a young person with little capital, making a large purchases or investment is not going to be in the near future.
“Schools are getting shut down in Richmond...” Said Tara Ramanathan, a 22 year old third grade teacher at Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, CA. “I'm concerned about unemployment rates and jobs.”
According to the West Contra Costa Unified School District, at least six schools are being closed for budgetary reasons. As a first year teacher without tenure, Ramanathan could find herself out of work next school year.
Despite the doom-and-gloom atmosphere being presented in the media, Ramanathan, Young and Owings have not decreased their spending.
“I've been making a conscious effort to shop at local shops and businesses instead of large corporations.” said Owings.
“When I saw myself with an abundance of savings at the end of 2008, I decided not to invest it as planned.” Young said. Undeterred by a recent pay cut, Young has not decreased his spending. In fact, it's increased. “I feel better about spending money. The justification for spending money is 'I'm helping the economy.'”
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More than 30 word in lead. Hard to follow.Verb to be is main verb of that sentence. Don't use it.
ReplyDeleteThis sentence needs work: I haven't been buying video games, but I have been buying micro brews .” Said Dorian Young, a 23 year old consultant living in Oakland, CA. No opening quote mark, two "Buy"s in same sentence 23-year-old should be hyphenated. No state with city when you're in same state.
Awkard: "making a large purchases or investment is not going to be in the near future." And verb to be.
Should have given Ramanthan one more quote, like other two.
I like that you used the school district to show how the recession is affecting even the young students. That insight really caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteI like it but somethings seem contradictory. Dorian Young has not been buying video games, only micro brews. That means he has been buying less. The quote doesnt seem to support the main idea that people are not buying less. But of course that detail might not be a huge problem. I really like the school district figure. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you put a focus on school teachers and how they are impacted due to the recession. The introduction could have been a little smoother though.
ReplyDeleteGood job for using Owings as a source. You cited excellent quotes from him.
ReplyDelete