Young, Broke, and Overlooked: Why being the future means getting ignored in the present
Words and Graphics by Levi LoCascio-Seward / Edited by Lauren Purnell
I’ve been on my own for almost four years now – paying bills, covering rent, keeping gas in my car, and making sure there’s food on the table at the end of the day. That constant grind is something my generation faces every single day, and yet it’s routinely overlooked, especially in the workplace.
Too many jobs demand experience and immediately write you off if they think you’re too young. My last job was working for a construction company. I was the youngest one working there. I didn’t know a lot about construction, but I knew design and tech. When it came to the tech, the people I worked with were like fish out of water. That’s where my being young earns me some respect, but not enough. In every job I’ve worked, from Trader Joe’s to hosting at a restaurant, I’ve been reminded of how young I am and how life supposedly “gets harder when you’re older.” But honestly, what does age have to do with struggle?
Prices are rising, rent is outrageous, groceries are expensive, and everything feels like it’s getting harder by the day. My wife and I have been living on our own for about 4 years now, and seeing the prices rise on necessary things like deodorant leaves us not having any until we get the funds to do so, or having to make rice and boiled vegetables so our dogs can eat. Nothing is easy, and it's so hard to try to get there.
Stability isn’t guaranteed for anyone. Young adults like me are often treated like we have it easier just because we don’t have kids or a mortgage. But that overlooks the fact that many of us are choosing not to have kids — not because we don’t want to, but because we can’t afford to, emotionally or financially. We’re staring down a collapsing economy, housing crisis, climate disaster, and constant political unrest. It’s not that we’re avoiding responsibility; it’s that we’re being crushed under responsibilities we didn’t ask for. So how is it fair that the ones trying to reduce future harm by not adding more to the chaos are still denied stability, support, or opportunity?
Working alongside older generations can be eye-opening. There’s always something to learn. But a huge challenge I’ve faced is being underestimated and dismissed because of my age. I’ve been told I lack experience. In reality, it’s the system that is unwilling to teach and invest in the next generation. I get brushed aside as if I couldn’t possibly be knowledgeable or qualified. One particular job that made me feel “less than” was that construction company. They treated me as if I don’t know things or how the processes of a business works. They took my family emergencies as excuses to call out, but I would genuinely have a problem. Just because I am young doesn’t mean I don’t have hardships or real-life things to handle. But here’s the truth: age doesn’t equal wisdom or value. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you’re right. It might just mean you’ve been wrong longer.
What needs to change is opportunity. The doors need to open and stay open. We need to invite each other into new spaces and give people chances to grow and learn, instead of gatekeeping knowledge and opportunity behind some arbitrary age barrier. My generation has the potential to change the world, and the people in power know it. That’s why they keep trying to hold us back.
We deserve opportunity. We deserve a platform. We deserve the chance to build our careers, create stability, and shape a future that works for everyone. Knowledge is a privilege - but it should be shared, not hoarded and weaponized to keep people down because of their age, experience level, or background.
We’re here. We’re capable. And we’re done waiting.
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