It's a hard knock life...eh?

[AFireInside]

Hi. I'm new.

 

So I want a bit of feedback.

 

Here's my situation: I'm 24 years old, and currently enrolled in community college, and I'm unemployed. Let's start with community college...

 

...So I feel like I'm wasting my time there. Not because I don't comprehend the subject material, and not because I'm not getting good grades. Not because I don't think I'm benefiting from the course, and not because I think my time would be better spent elsewhere.

 

I feel like I'm wasting my time because I feel like I'm not making any progress. I'm taking two classes this semester...TWO! Why? Because I can't afford to pay my way. My folks are paying for my classes and so I guess I can't complain. Somehow I feel like I'd be better off if I could take at least 5 or 6 classes a semester. At least then I'd be accomplishing something. I've been in community college for the past two years already. I'm taking a two year course! I should be completed already. I'm not because every semester it's the same thing: "Sorry, son, we can't afford to send you full time, so you're just gonna have to make do."

 

Fine. I understand, I keep saying. I know what it's like to have to pay bills and manage a household.

 

Still, at this rate it's gonna take me forever to get out of that two year course! And I'm still an undergraduate! This doesn't even take into consideration that I'd like to move on to higher learning and become a real professional!

 

If you're wondering, I'm currently taking computer programming. I hope to get an AS degree in said field. Then, perhaps move on to engineering.

 

I digress...

 

Ok, let's talk about my living situation. I live with my folks. We live in a rural, mountain region, in the middle of nowhere. We're so far out that I have to get up at 7am to get ready to leave by 9am just so I can get to my first class at 11am. My first and ONLY class. That's right, I make a two hour commute just to get to a class that lasts an hour long. And then it's time to come home! Seems like it's not even worth going on most days...

 

I dislike living with my parents. Sure, I love them and blah blah blah. They're good people and blah blah blah. They're my parents and I'm grateful for the fact that they do what they can for me and my sister, but this still doesn't change the fact that I'd like to get out there and do my own thing. I'm not afraid of paying my own way. I welcome such an advent.

 

However, I've lived on my own for a period of time, and I can say with great certainty that I no longer wish to try and make ends meet with a meager pay. Minimum wage is no way to make a living. It just isn't.

 

That's part of the reason I chose to move back in and go to college. I want to leave, but not if it means that I'll only make enough money to scrape by. I don't know about you all, but I hate having to choose between a new roll of toilet paper or a loaf of bread.

 

So, this all brings me to the heart of the "problem" (yeah, they're first world problems. Well, guess what?! I live in a first world country! Otherwise, I wouldn't have an internet connection with which to communicate on this forum!): My social status.

 

Social status is an "umbrella term" that encompasses a wide variety of concepts, one of which happens to be your employment status. Most people, if given the choice, would like to work in a place that provides great benefits, a decent amount of pay, and a fair exchange of servitude in exchange for said pay. Most people would like to be treated like a human being, and would expect to have superiors that would reflect on the concept that people aren't just a commodity, but rather unique individuals who deserve acknowledgement and respect, especially when those people are the lifeblood of the entire operation.

 

The point I'm getting to is that these giant corporations, like wal-mart, mcdonald's, and the like, don't provide the work environment that most people would like to find themselves in. I know from first hand experience.

 

If you're not happy on the job, you're not gonna be happy at home. If you're not happy at home, these negative feelings are only going to be exacerbated, and will soon be so cumbersome that you'll find yourself wishing that you could retreat to a far-away, uninhabited island upon which you can live out the remainder of your days like some simpleton, some feral creature who lives to hunt and nothing more.

 

To put it quite simply, I'm extremely frustrated by the fact that I'm a 24 year old loser who lives with his mother and father, is moving at a snail's pace insofar as "self improvement" goes, and has no set of resources with which to cultivate a lifestyle.

 

ARGH!

 

Sorry for such a long rant, but I don't know what else to do besides complain about it. If you know what I'm going through, I'd appreciate a few pearls of wisdom from your bubbling cesspool of knowledge.

 

Thanks.

Edited April 16, 2012 by AFireInside

[Mr Scorpio]

 

Sorry for such a long rant, but I don't know what else to do besides complain about it. If you know what I'm going through, I'd appreciate a few pearls of wisdom from your bubbling cesspool of knowledge.

 

Well, I cannot claim to have pearls of wisom. But a useless reply is better than no reply, right?

 

First off, I'm wondering what you might be able to do to improve that employment situation? I'm guessing that living in the middle of nowhere certainly isn't helping things, but might there be a gas station? A convenience store? A factory? Something where you can pull in at least a few hundred bucks a month to help pay for classes?

 

Second, yeah your situation sucks, but it could be worse. I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better, but it is still true. There are millions -- maybe a billion -- people who would be glad to trade places with you. Factory workers making iPads, starving North Koreans, etc, etc.

 

Third, does your community college offer grants or scholarships or any sort? Have you been looking into internships? Volunteer positions? Anything that you can do to acquire more knowledge can only help you at this point.

[oldguy]

I remember well the ketchup & hot water tomato soup lunches at the college cafeteria. I took classes through the summer just to graduate early because, although my GI bill paid for my tuition it did not cover all supplies or any living expenses so I went to school full time and worked some pretty interesting minimum wage jobs. Driving cab was probably as much of a learning experience as my college courses

There where a few times I considered returning to the Air Force & making a career of it while getting a degree. In retrospect I'm not sure that would have been a bad choice in fact. I'm not suggesting you join the military however I'm just telling you my story.

I would imagine given the current economy that part time jobs are that easy to come by especially if your in a small town, is that correct?

 

As for getting up at 7AM to leave by 9AM & be to school by 11AM, I would say your lucky your first class doesn't start at 8AM

For years I got up at 5AM so I could do what needed to be done before being at work by 7:40 to start at 8 & rarely got home before 6:30PM & then I was "on-call" regularly for years so I'm not sure why getting up at 7 & in class at 11 is a problem, sorry.

 

If it takes you another 6 years to get your degree you will be better off at 30 yo with it than without it, IMHO. I do understand your frustration but what options have you considered?

Edited April 16, 2012 by oldguy

[AFireInside]

I know that it could be worse. And I know that I'm lucky that my class doesn't start earlier.

 

I'm not complaining about having to get up "so early" just to get there "on time". Rather, I feel like there's no reason for me to go at all, because it feels like I spend more time driving than I do in class.

 

I have two classes this semester. I go to an "interpersonal communications" course on mondays and wednesdays, and I have a programming course on tuesdays and thursdays. Both classes start at 11am.

 

So even though I'm going 4 days a week, I'm really only going to one class a day. This leaves me twiddling my thumbs on most days. Homework? Hm? What's that? Please, explain such a thing!

 

I'm not gonna belittle my institution or my instructors, so I won't complain about how they choose to run their courses. Instead, let me offer this explanation: I could have simply bought the books (or even better, rented them from the library), studied each one for a few weeks, did a few of the book's exercises and BAM! ...a semester's worth of information.

 

In other words, why show up to the class if you could gain the same amount of experience by staying at home and studying the book on your own time?

 

"for the course credits" you'll probably reply.

 

Sure.

 

But since when does a piece of paper, a degree, look better than years of experience? Sure, you can argue that it takes the "right kind of" experience in order to say that you've gained anything at all, but ...Whose to say there's a "right" or "wrong" way to learn?

 

Ah, I dunno. I'm just ranting at this point, I guess.

 

As for the options that I've considered...

 

I guess I could be just like everyone else my age: Get a crappy minimum wage job, move into an apartment with a friend, and split the difference.

 

But the whole point of college was so that I could get a career and avoid such a fate. I want enough cash so that I can afford a mortgage and all that. I just want my freedom, damnit. I just want to be away from my folks and on my own. I don't think it's too much to ask.

 

I guess, then, the answer seems to be "come into a large sum of money such that I can put my nose to the grindstone and get that degree"

 

Right?

 

Hell, I dunno. I guess, more than anything, I wanted to complain.

How great is this country?! You get to go on the internet and bitch about minuscule things!

 

Thanks for listening.

Edited April 16, 2012 by AFireInside

[oldguy]

I know that it could be worse. And I know that I'm lucky that my class doesn't start earlier.

 

I'm not complaining about having to get up "so early" just to get there "on time". Rather, I feel like there's no reason for me to go at all, because it feels like I spend more time driving than I do in class.

 

I have two classes this semester. I go to an "interpersonal communications" course on mondays and wednesdays, and I have a programming course on tuesdays and thursdays. Both classes start at 11am.

 

So even though I'm going 4 days a week, I'm really only going to one class a day. This leaves me twiddling my thumbs on most days. Homework? Hm? What's that? Please, explain such a thing!

I probably studied nearly 4 hours for every hour of class I was in. So maybe they aren't challenging you enough & that's why your bored too. You can't find an afternoon or evening job? I know it's probably impossible in a small town with the economy the way it is. Would it be feasible to get a job in the city your going to school in & live with other people. It would save fuel, wear & tear on a vehicle & afford you the freedom you desire. It might be a good life experience as well.

 

I'm not gonna belittle my institution or my instructors, so I won't complain about how they choose to run their courses. Instead, let me offer this explanation: I could have simply bought the books (or even better, rented them from the library), studied each one for a few weeks, did a few of the book's exercises and BAM! ...a semester's worth of information.

 

In other words, why show up to the class if you could gain the same amount of experience by staying at home and studying the book on your own time?

 

"for the course credits" you'll probably reply.

 

Sure.

 

But since when does a piece of paper, a degree, look better than years of experience? Sure, you can argue that it takes the "right kind of" experience in order to say that you've gained anything at all, but ...Whose to say there's a "right" or "wrong" way to learn?

What your suggesting is credible to an extent. "That piece of paper" will open doors for you that otherwise will forever remain locked. It will give you access to professional licenses, consideration when competing for jobs or positions or promotions. Many companies will not advance people into a management roll without a degree in higher learning even if it's not in the field their employed.

A lot of people live their lives & go to school at night, you might be able to do that with the added benefit of your parents helping you with college.

 

Ah, I dunno. I'm just ranting at this point, I guess.

 

As for the options that I've considered...

 

I guess I could be just like everyone else my age: Get a crappy minimum wage job, move into an apartment with a friend, and split the difference.

And go to school in the evenings. After I graduated & was lucky enough to eventually land a job in my field, (sort of), I still routinely found myself attending classes in the evening to further my education in my field.

 

But the whole point of college was so that I could get a career and avoid such a fate. I want enough cash so that I can afford a mortgage and all that. I just want my freedom, damnit. I just want to be away from my folks and on my own. I don't think it's too much to ask.

 

I guess, then, the answer seems to be "come into a large sum of money such that I can put my nose to the grindstone and get that degree"

 

Right?

Since we're dreaming, lets dream it's enough money you can invest it and have your money work for you rather than you work for your money, then you don't need college.

 

Right?

 

Hell, I dunno. I guess, more than anything, I wanted to complain.

How great is this country?! You get to go on the internet and bitch about minuscule things!

 

Thanks for listening.

In retrospect the journey is always grander than the destination.