Let Down

I am grateful that I am no longer in the position where I need to help a child through their high-school to college journey. I have no idea what the future hold for someone who will come out with a diploma four years out.  That degree was once supposed to guarantee a “real job” and a smooth ride into adulthood. This is very from a given these days. For a lot of British Asian grads for example, the reality is not that simple. Despite years of studying, networking, and trying to tick every box, many end up relying on benefits. And it’s not just about the job market being brutal. It's also about expectations, culture, and the silent pressure we don’t often talk about.

Growing up, success often meant “get the degree, get the job, make your family proud.” But today the world doesn’t line up with that neat formula. First-gen grads, in particular, feel that weight. Not getting a job isn’t just a career hiccup, it can feel like a personal failure in front of the people who raised you.

Competition is fierce, and AI is making it even harder to stand out. Resumes get filtered before a human even sees them, and internships often require experience that you can’t get without having a job. It’s a frustrating loop. Relying on benefits isn’t carries many burdens Many grads wrestle with guilt, anxiety, and the quiet shame of not “making it” yet. The stigma is real, especially in communities where admitting struggle can feel like letting everyone down. Those people who are being "let down" have never had to deal with the generational stressors these young people are having to deal with.