Graduates today have a right to whine

Re “Get real,” editorial, June 7

Today’s graduates may have unrealistic expectations about their careers, but who can blame them? Forcefully prodded by overeager parents, recent graduates are, on average, far more accomplished than previous generations. Having packed their “free time” with resume-building internships, athletics, advanced courses and volunteer work, their school years have been tremendously busy and demanding. I encourage the editorial writers to take a look at the admissions standards of their alma maters. With today’s competition, would they have even gotten accepted? Given all of the work young graduates have already put in, maybe the work world is easy by comparison.

ANDERSON GANSNER

Chicago

*

If today’s graduates are “generation whine,” it’s because we learned from the best -- our parents and grandparents. But we are the ones with so much to whine about. Just out of college, we are saddled with debt labeled “college aid.” We are looking at rent or a mortgage that will eat up a large amount of our income. We are looking at the enormous tab for new entitlements for the elderly -- the one group with the most wealth. We are looking at living on a warming planet with fewer resources and land that’s contaminated.

So instead of being critical of our whining, realize that we have so much to whine about.

SHANE ALGARIN

San Diego