Playing Social Worker and Neighborhood Counselor to Area Young Adults

I live in Ohio, in a decent size neighborhood, with about 125 high school graduates per year. I am a 31 year old mother of 4 daughers and 1 son, ranging in ages from 4 to 15. I learned by age 18, that if I wanted to get ahead in life, I had to take responsibility and get a job. But not just any job, one that could support my family as it grew. I currently earn 2 times the current minumum wage while my husband is a stay at home father. We live comfortably, and I encourage my children to become successful through education and/or skilled training.

There is a group of young adults that frequent my house to visit with my husband, playing video games and board games, sometimes on a daily basis, that have now become our neighborhood children. Most we have known for years, through their parents or as neighbors. Most are low income families and have juvenile records, and have never had a real job. As they visit, I listen, watch, and observe their facial expressions and body language to get a sense of their lifestyle and where they plan on going later in life. Well I have come to the conclusion that they have already made the decision to stay in their current situation. Unemployed, uneducated and will continue living with their parents as if life is magically going to produce opportunity and money to survive.

Success at an early age plays a very important part in ones life as they grow into adulthood. Not only does success provide encouragement, but also stability. If these young adults have not yet achieved success or know the feeling of success, what is missing in their life? Successful Parents? That I am not sure, even successful parents have children who lack a sense of direction. Is it the schools? I am positive there are resources within each school district, but who is it provided to and how? Or is it the year 2009? The future of laziness or excuses? Is playing counseler and social worker enough? I have provided resources to further their skills and places to look for employment, but to no avail. I encourage job seeking and education, but it's obvious it goes through one ear and out the other. I give examples of lifestyles that would be appropriate, if only they would go out and get it. These young adults range in ages of 18 to 24, and for them to continue in the same pattern for too long, I know it will become a lifestyle until their dying days.

I will continue to provide these young adults with all my knowledge of success, meals and advice. I just hope that success does come knocking at their door for their sakes.