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YouthWorker JournalYouthWorker Journal and youthworker.com and youthworker.com

Youth and the RecessionYouth and the Recession

Painful LessonsPainful Lessons

by Paul Asay

Posted: June 1, 2009

What’s Happening:What’s Happening:

America is in the midst of America is in the midst of a recession, and few a recession, and few have escaped its effects. have escaped its effects.

Unemployment continues Unemployment continues to climb. to climb.

Spending continues to Spending continues to fall. fall.

Families continue to cut Families continue to cut back, and youth are not back, and youth are not exempt.exempt.

When family When family members are laid off members are laid off or are forced to or are forced to move, teens suffer move, teens suffer as much stress as as much stress as their parents. They their parents. They get angry and get angry and scared, and some scared, and some cry. Some just keep cry. Some just keep it bottled up inside.it bottled up inside.

““You can see it in You can see it in their eyes. their eyes. They’re thinking They’re thinking about something about something else, and it has else, and it has nothing to do with nothing to do with algebra .”algebra .”

-- California math -- California math teacher Nathan Robinsonteacher Nathan Robinson

Source: CBS NewsSource: CBS News

Many teens are changing their own Many teens are changing their own spending habits, staying away from spending habits, staying away from expensive brands and shopping at expensive brands and shopping at thrift stores to save cash.thrift stores to save cash.

““Labels are becoming less and less of a Labels are becoming less and less of a priority for people throughout my school.”priority for people throughout my school.”

--Chelsea Orcutt, 17--Chelsea Orcutt, 17

Source: Source: TheThe New York TimesNew York Times

Teens are thinking creatively about summer Teens are thinking creatively about summer employment, too. With more than 20 employment, too. With more than 20 percent of youth unemployed, many teens percent of youth unemployed, many teens are starting their own businesses. Some are are starting their own businesses. Some are becoming wildly successful. becoming wildly successful.

Jasmine Lawrence, Jasmine Lawrence, 17, started a body-17, started a body-care company, Eden care company, Eden BodyWorks, with BodyWorks, with savings from her savings from her allowance. The allowance. The company now sells company now sells between $700,000 between $700,000 and $740,000 worth and $740,000 worth of product annually.of product annually.

Some believe Some believe the recession the recession may be a good may be a good thing for teens, thing for teens, teaching them teaching them the importance the importance of saving more of saving more and spending and spending wisely.wisely.

““Can it be that we are now being forced Can it be that we are now being forced to teach our children a lesson we never to teach our children a lesson we never fully learned ourselves? For every teen fully learned ourselves? For every teen having to cut back on designer duds, having to cut back on designer duds, there are parents who are having to there are parents who are having to learn life isn't dependent on cool cars learn life isn't dependent on cool cars and granite counter tops.”and granite counter tops.”

-- Lisa Earle McLeod-- Lisa Earle McLeod

Source: Source: Huffington PostHuffington Post

Talk About It:Talk About It:

Has your family been Has your family been affected by the affected by the recession? recession?

Has the recession Has the recession affected you?affected you?

How are you helping How are you helping your parents cope? your parents cope? How are you helping How are you helping others? others?

How have your spending habits changed?How have your spending habits changed? Are you eating out less? Going to fewer movies? Are you eating out less? Going to fewer movies?

Looking for more sales? Looking for more sales?

What the Bible Says:What the Bible Says:

““Be joyful in hope, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. faithful in prayer. Share with God’s Share with God’s people who are in people who are in need. Practice need. Practice hospitality” hospitality” (Rom. (Rom. 12:12-13).12:12-13).

““In this world you will In this world you will have trouble. But take have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome heart! I have overcome the world” the world” (John 16:33).(John 16:33).

““Dear friends, do not be surprised Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is overjoyed when his glory is revealed”revealed” (1 Pet. 4:12-13). (1 Pet. 4:12-13).

““But the needy But the needy will not always will not always be forgottenbe forgotten

nor the hope of nor the hope of the afflicted the afflicted ever perish” ever perish” ((Ps. 9:18).Ps. 9:18).

““The poorest of The poorest of the poor will the poor will find pasturefind pasture

and the needy and the needy will lie down in will lie down in safety” safety” ((Is. 14:30).Is. 14:30).