Recession Generation hit hard in struggle to adulthood

Katie Spangler had it all planned out.

She did as many high-school activities as possible, from drama to golf, to make herself appealing to college admissions officers. She excelled at Western Washington University, graduating with a double major in communications and human-resource management. And then she confidently launched herself into the real world.

But there was one thing Spangler couldn't expect: the worst recession in decades.