By Peter Biggs

Bruce Fawcett is currently heading the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches as acting executive minister as well as  director of communications. He has  extensive experience with teens and young adults, and headed ‘Tidal Impact,’ Canada’s largest short term mission program. Tidal facilitates some 1,300 students a year in both Canadian and oversees mission projects. Fawcett estimates he connected with more than 5,000 short term mission students.

Options reached him to explore issues he sees facing the ‘Millennial generation’ (those born after 1985), especially as regards post-secondary education.

Polarization of values

Over many years he has described a change, with a greater polarization between those who are keen to advance their education/career and those that don’t. “I see a clash in cultural values. Some value high achievement, [career direction and education], others put more value on relationships, freedom, flexibility, spontaneity and non-material things. Among some there is a growing disillusionment with North American materialism and an opting out. It’s an opting out of career tracking which would demand a level of commitment and performance that some are simply not prepared to give.

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Finances

Finances is a big part of life in general. Fawcett sees a distinct contrast between high school students and the higher education crowd.

“Most high school students actually have quite a high level of disposable income, with a part-time job and few expenses. Contrast this with the college/university student who has to deal with tuition fees, books, transportation, computer. Some students find the adjustment hard, having got used to a standard of living when at high school.”

Another element he sees is a rise in post higher education debt. “Two students on  loans can marry and leave college with over $60,000 of debt! It’s like leaving school with a mortgage and no house.”

Travel

Millennials have never known life without the computer and internet; technology is a given and is not at all exotic to them. Fawcett sees them viewing travel in the same way. “Travel is a given,” he said. In facilitating thousands through [through Tidal Impact], it used to be that travel was mostly done by the ‘university crowd.’ This year I’ve taken a non-university group to Eastern Europe. Lots of church youth groups are taking their kids somewhere. Some work to travel.”

Living at home

Quoting Stats Canada figures which show that some 50 percent of twenty-somethings live at home, Fawcett acknowledges this to be a clear distinctive. “Some move out and move back, but partly because of student indebtedness and partly the high cost of accommodation students are staying home.” Indeed, this well documented trend is changing homes, with parents working out more comfortable long-term ways to accommodate adult kids with separate suites and living areas.

Options Winter 2008