You might as well calm down because there is nothing anyone can do to make your 19 year old "perk up." Undoubtedly he will find his path. Maybe he'll go off to work at a dead-end job for awhile and "perk up" at that point when he realizes he wants more stimulation and more money. He may then go back to school. Or maybe he'll go off to college and discover his passion when he's there. Or maybe he'll graduate and get into one line of work and then switch to another. Anything can happen. Most young people don't settle down completely into their career until some point in their 20's - and it can be the end of the 20's or early 30's or later. As his friends find their way, get married and buy houses, he'll probably do the same or at least become very motivated to try to do the same. So, my advice to you is let him be. Visualize him being very successful one day. Relax!   Sarah Chana

I am well into my forties.... and I have had many successful careers... I didn't know what I wanted to do either at that age.  What I did have were parents that taught me to rely on my strengths as a person and taught success in life had much less to do with what toys you ended up with at the end of the game, but rather in the way you played the game.

You are so right! The "I can do" attitude is what is most important. I think this parent should be saying things to his son like, "You'll figure it out - you're a smart guy" or "I have confidence in you - you can do anything you set your mind to " and stuff like that instead of knocking him down (which is never going to help). Also, he should keep in mind that there are lots of different ways to succeed, not just the college degree way. A parent has to be open-mind, flexible and patient. I personally think that most 19 year olds haven't got a clue, it's not unusual. This Dad should definitely calm down.