Generation Stuck

Twelve 20-somethings chronicle their lives for WBUR. Learn more.

Name	Christine Beckett
Age	27
Works in	Law
Studied at	Syracuse, Northeastern Law
Lives in	Jamaica Plain, MA
From	North Shore, MA
Makes	$35,000-$45,000

Current job

Associate attorney, Jeffrey A. Cohen, Esq.

Jobs since graduation

Intern, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable; intern, National Association of Broadcasters; intern, Masferrer & Associates; intern and fellow, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; waitress, Chili’s; substitute teacher, Triton Regional High School; copy editor, John Wiley & Sons

Living arrangement

Living with parents until September 1, then in an apartment with two roommates.

How a paycheck
is spent

After paying my rent and student loan payment, half my monthly paycheck is gone. Then I pay my car payment, car insurance, health insurance, and credit cards. That leaves me enough to buy groceries and gas for my car and not much else.

Interests

Following my favorite sports teams, going to trivia night with my friends, reading, watching TV, skiing in the winter, running 5Ks

Favorite
creative work

Details in the Fabric by Jason Mraz, featuring James Morrison. It’s an amazing song and has such a calming influence over me. The gist is that you can’t worry about every detail, you’ll go crazy, so just calm down and enjoy the ride; everything will be all right.

Survey

Have you moved back in with your parents since college?	Yes No
Have you taken a job requiring a lower skill level or less education than you have?	Yes No
Do you feel you are less far along in your career than you had imagined for this age?	Yes No
Do you feel you are less far along in most other aspects of your life than you imagined at this age (saving money, starting a family, buying a home, et cetera)?	Yes No
Have you experienced significant emotional distress as a result of your economic situation?	Yes No
Are you receiving financial support?	Yes No
Are you optimistic about your future?	Yes No

Responses from Christine

“We don’t talk about how hard it is. We don’t have to.”

“Instead of calling those in their teens and twenties entitled, understand exactly what we’re going through.”

“$192,836.87. That’s what the Department of Education’s website says I owe. And it grows.”

“The question wasn’t, ‘Is this too much?’ The question was, ‘What’s another ten grand when I already owe so much?’”

“I felt like everyone could tell that I was unemployed. I even waited until 3 PM to go to the gym or run errands so maybe the people that would see me out … would think I was a teacher and not a “loser.””