Mike works hard for four years pulling all-nighters and practically living in the library before he decides his real dream is to play video games 24 hours a day. Elizabeth resists the temptation to drink or fraternize during college, but after graduating decides that is all that she wants to do. So she spends the next two years after graduation not applying to law schools, but having the time of her life with absolutely no responsibilities or consequences.

Does this actually happen? Could it happen to you, your children, or your friends? The answer is yes, it does actually happen; and yes, it could be you, your kids, and your friends that are pulled into the post-grad slacker lifestyle. The truth is that kids were wasting their college degrees long before the economy gave them an excuse.

Think of movies like Reality Bites, Empire Records, Clerks; these movies represented young adults’ life views in the 90’s. Youths are portrayed as wandering aimlessly through life, with or without a degree, and only adamant about not “selling out”; whether any of the characters actually know what selling out means is questionable.

Though the transition through the Millennium was hazy, much of today’s youth feel the same way. They are not sure what they want to do, but they know that they want to look cool doing it. Nine to five jobs are out, jobs where you have to work hard are out, and anything involving manual labor is definitely out. So what’s left? Audition for American Idol?

Seriously, if you stepped into any high school or college campus in America and asked students what their biggest dream was, you would probably find a fair number of reality television star want-to-be’s. However, obsession with celebrity isn’t entirely responsible for this lack of motivation. How could it be with so many “gamers” out there are willing to take jobs at Burger King if it means that they can stay up all night gaming?

There are others, such as hippie types that just don’t care about making money. They are the hybrid children of the 60’s who don’t necessarily want to live in tents, but who also don’t want to work in a 70-story office building. Give them a low-paying job working with animals or protecting the environment and they are happy.

Why is this happening to so many young people? If you ask your grandfather, he will probably say it is because “today’s kids are lazy.” This is really only partially true. Kids today are more self-centered in a way that they only choose to do the things that they really want to do.

The truth is, after a while, kids actually started listening to what they have been told; that they have the rest of their lives to be adults. Who hasn’t been envious of Peter Pan from time to time? Who wouldn’t want to live life like a slacker? If all of the reasons for having a serious career are gone, the slacker lifestyle can be very attractive to the youth of today.