Generation Stuck

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

Name	Seth Maloney
Age	23
Works in	Digital Marketing
Studied at	Western New England College
Lives in	Burlington, VT
From	Hardwick, VT
Makes	$15,000-$25,000

Current job

Internet marketing specialist, Barn Door Media

Jobs since graduation

Cashier, RJ's Market; receiving and data entry, Stowe Kitchen, Bath, and Linens; barista/cashier, Harvest Market

Living arrangement

Living in small apartment shared with girlfriend

How a paycheck
is spent

Rent and utilities is $500; student loans take over $750, but with interest only it's closer to $250; car insurance is $70; food, gas, and taxes take the rest

Interests

Reading, writing, bass playing, video games, hiking, skiing, sci-fi and comics

Favorite
creative work

Black Room Boy by Above and Beyond and Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell

Personal motto

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

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 Seth

“If you tell us that we’re going to fail, and really hammer it into our heads for a decade or two, then sure we’ll fail.”

“Making new friends is an extremely frustrating experience for me.”

“Life is a giant pile of things you want to do and things that crop up, plans that fall through, and a million other things.”

“Before the life insurance payout, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to stay afloat for much longer.”

“September 18th is the day I see the last student-loan payment I’ll ever have to write for my undergraduate education cashed.”

“Constantly driving back and forth … to the hospital a couple times a week had drained what savings I had been able to accrue since graduating.”

“I can’t afford anything larger than a tiny apartment, with my ‘office’ two feet from my bed … There are days when the actual physical isolation this causes has an impact on my work.”

Responses from Seth

“Making new friends is an extremely frustrating experience for me.” —Seth

Generation Stuck