A number of sociologists and educationalists are arguing that we are experiencing a crisis in education, one that is taking place within the larger crisis of capitalism. The neoliberal discourse shifts subjects towards survival being as an individual responsibility. Vulnerability is closely tied to individual responsibility, and is central to neoliberal subjectivity – workers are disposable and there is no obligation on the part of the ‘social fabric’ to take care of the disposed (Davies 2005). Therefore the neoliberal subject becomes both vulnerable and necessarily competitive. My presentation is based on my article (Brunila, in press) and it focuses on how neoliberalism and therapisation are shaping perceptions of the problems that young people, particularly those considered ‘at risk,’ are facing, and how young people as a consequence are identified. I will argue that that the alliance of neoliberalism and therapisation offers young people the position of survivalist, especially those deemed to be at risk. How this survival discourse, derived from government policy and educational programmes shapes the way young people are expected to present themselves in order to be heard, will be considered.