Visual

    I chose this image because it depicts how the road to adulthood has been elongated. There have been delays in common life events that used to signify adulthood. Such events are buying a home, marriage, starting a family, etc. There has also been dependence of parents to assist in paying off college debt. With the cost of higher education on the rise, young adults are not able to fully pay off their debt on their own, so they look toward their family for assistance. This cartoon shows just that. Young adults borrow an average of $38,000 from their parents to pay off college debt and for living expenses. Part of these living expenses may include taking care of a child, but not family. Since marriage is so uncommon for young adults just getting out of college, 40% of mothers become unmarried mothers. Marriage becomes too expensive, which is why it is delayed until about the age of 26. All of these factors create a delay in the emergence of adulthood.