Wanderlust Abounds

"Not all those who wander are lost..."

                                          -J.R.R. Tolkien

So as it turns out, I won't be writing about mealtime in America or religion in France.  After further thought and extensive weighing of pros and cons, I've decided to write about the rise of "wanderlust" in United States' young adult culture.
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Thesis:  In the last 20 years, the rise of individuality and social media have lead young Americans to question the conditions of the "American Dream", leading to a sharp increase in the cultural epidemic that can only be described as "wanderlust".

The Path:

First, I'll describe how, in the past, the domestic American Dream was to settle down at a young age with a stable job, a nice suburban home, and maybe a dog.

Now, many 20-somethings are rejecting this idea, turning down monetary wealth to become "nomadic"- often times taking up small jobs and volunteering to cover their modest travelling costs.  Often, they are recent college graduates who opt to spend a year cleaning toilets in Thailand instead of starting a career.

Following the explanation of the shift, I'll pose this question: How did wanderlust take over the collective frame of mind of America's youth?

...And explore these factors:  

The emergence of social media has allowed Americans to experience other cultures through vivid images, and has made it 'cool' to be a worldly person.  It has also lead to a heavy emphasis being placed on individuality and uniqueness.  Instead of seeking normalcy, recent college graduates are seeking 'authenticity' in the form of new and exciting places.  

And finally, the millions of inspiring quotes layered over fanciful photographs on Pinterest and Tumblr instill in us the importance of "finding oneself" and "doing what you love".  In the past, there was a stronger emphasis on the collective: working an honest job for the good of your family/community was more important than finding your true self.  The more idealistic ideas that have surfaced recently stress the growth of the individual, making pursuits like extended travel and nomadic lifestyles much more desirable.

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Sources:
I don't have specific links to share, but I plan on using statistics showing the increase of young adults travelling after college, the increase in travel websites, etc. to illustrate the shift.