A touch of gray

A local business leader told me our economy is merely getting worse, and asked–rhetorically–”What’s going to happen to the high school and NMC graduates in June?”

It’s not too soon to start pondering that question. Some such students, of course, have already locked in plans to continue their educations out in the Big World. The local economy won’t have any impact on them, outside of the family finance realm as they strive to face the tuition and bills.

As for the other freshly minted students, they sure will have a challenging time of it. It’s not a happy thing to ponder.

Like a line from a 70’s rock song, the gig will be “should I stay or should I go?” Some kids, those with some modicum of ambition, will no doubt decide to mount up, John Wayne style, and ride into the sunset seeking gold–or at least eight bucks an hour–in the United States. Having a network of family or pals over there will make the transition a more palatable gig for them.

The United States has some economic worries of its own, but nothing on the order of Saipan’s. I know abject imbeciles in the states who pull down a solid $70K a year, no sweat. Come to think of it, I know a few geniuses who are only good for $40K….this inverse relationship would mean that the ,village idiot is good for a solid six figures, easy.

Still on the “over there” side of the coin, some kids will opt for a tour in the military, which is usually a good move.

As for the over here…well, economically, there is no here, here. A freshly minted graduate determined to hack it right here at home is going to have a real challenge on his or her hands. I’m a man who loves a ,challenge, but I can’t say I envy them that challenge.

Some, of course, will find jobs. Some won’t. Some probably never intended to in the first place, and Uncle Sam stands at the ready to subsidize them starting a family, as long as they do it entirely irresponsibly.

Overall, this small community is going to have to absorb a large number of unemployed people; people who will be seeing relatively rich tourists frolicking on the beaches, carefree vacationers living the high life while the home boyz are burdened with financial woes and worries. That’s not a recipe for total harmony.

Perhaps the tradition of extended families can soak up some of the crunch temporarily. My pals and I were expected to have our bags packed upon graduation, no ifs, ands, or buts. We knew this in advance and locked into serious SAT scores before senior year, at which point our immediate futures were secure and we could spend senior year chugging beer and rebuilding carburetors.

By contrast, I suspect some grads here will be forced to bunk in with the P’s…which sure has its financial merits, but would put a crimp on throwing spontaneous memorial parties for Jerry Garcia at three a.m. when your red-eyed pals from Berkeley stagger in the door unannounced.

Indeed, every silver lining has a touch of gray, and graduation this year, like last, is going to couple newly found freedom with a newly shouldered burden.

Ed Stephens, Jr. is an economist and columnist for the Saipan Tribune. “Ed4Saipan@yahoo.com”