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- A rising number of young Americans are disconnected from work, school, and a sense of purpose.
- Disconnection rates have been increasing since the 1990s, affecting young people's futures.
- Poor mental health and a lack of a financial safety net contribute to rising disconnection.
Destiny's main goal right now is survival.
The 21-year-old grew up in foster care in Florida and left the foster-care system at 16. Retail jobs helped her save enough money for an apartment, and she eventually became a manager at Family Dollar. She enrolled in college and maintained straight A's — for a while.
But Destiny, who asked to go by only her first name for fear of personal and professional repercussions, began to suffer from overwork while having multiple jobs during the pandemic, and her mental health faltered.