Overpopulation

[Opaline]

I've lately had some problems figuring out how I'm going to achieve a stable career of any sort with no money and a wasted college scholarship. The USA is obviously in a pretty severe recession right now, and that is making finding employment very hard for those with a Bachelors degree, never mind anyone with less than that. I don't have any hard evidence for this other than intuition, but I think overpopulation is probably a big factor as well, and possibly the two problems combined; more and more people applying to fewer and fewer jobs.

Until something in our country changes, what are people supposed to do?

And what are you supposed to do if you can barely even afford a 2-year program that is practically worthless unless it is in nursing, respiratory therapy, or radiology/sonography (which, by the way, are highly selective programs to get into. Hundreds of students apply to each one and in the radiology program, for example, only 70 students are selected each year; and this is at a community college!)? Don't say financial aid - it nearly always leaves some tuition you have to find another way to pay. And if you don't want to accumulate a lot of debt, or have bad credit (no private loans)...

So basically my thought is that I'd be better off ending my life because not only does it benefit others (okay yeah, it's only one less person in the world but every bit helps right? and who needs a depressed and foolish human around anyway?), but my future is looking grim. I felt bad enough 3 years ago when I realized my dream of being a doctor was never going to happen, but if you had told me then that I'd end up wasting my $80k scholarship on an uncompleted Bachelors and possibly facing a life of working menial jobs and having to climb the laughable corporate ladder at Dunkin Donuts... I would have had a hearty laugh, because no way was I going to drop out of college. Not me. I wasn't going to be one of "those" people.

Well... life has a way of making an ass out of you if you're not careful. Small problems get bigger if left unchecked and before you know it you're all alone and going nowhere.

I posted something similar to this in my journal thread, but I was curious to see other people's thoughts on the overpopulation/unemployment thing.

I'm not saying anyone should say "yeah you're right, suicide sounds like a good option", and I know even if you did think that, you can't say that here. And I've been suicidal before, for different reasons. But this is the first time I've really experienced the anxiety of someone who can't pay for college and fears for the future. I really took my boarding school scholarship for granted. I would give anything for another try, but it's too late.

I kind of mixed two topics, but maybe you can make sense of all that.

 

[ImNotMyIllness]

I don't know what to say. You're attractive and very intelligent and articulate. With the right opportunity, someone like you could do very well.

Is a degree and professional career all there is to life? What about love? What about passion and romance and forget the priorities of the world. I don't know.

There's enough idiots. You're not one of them. The world needs smart people like you. And yes, smart people do really stupid things. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us. But, you're way too young to be talking like this!

 

[MikeyC]

more and more people applying to fewer and fewer jobs.

You got that right, and this will be an even larger problem with no end in sight.

my future is looking grim.

I'm very sorry you feel that way. :sad: You sound like you're completely out of options. Have you thought of doing something extreme? Not trying to sound biased here, but have you thought of moving overseas, like Australia, for a "fresh start" of sorts? It's a massive move, but it's got to be better than the abyss you're in now.

 

[Opaline]

I don't know what to say. You're attractive and very intelligent and articulate. With the right opportunity, someone like you could do very well.

Is a degree and professional career all there is to life? What about love? What about passion and romance and forget the priorities of the world. I don't know.

There's enough idiots. You're not one of them. The world needs smart people like you. And yes, smart people do really stupid things. Sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us. But, you're way too young to be talking like this!

I appreciate you saying this (and to be honest I felt a spark of hope that I quickly crushed with my "rational" thinking (read: over-analyzing), but I don't have a degree. And while the worth of said degree is now up for debate, it's still quite obvious from a quick sweep of different job ads that the minimum for most middle-class income salaried jobs is to have a Bachelors degree - unless you are an RN, RT, etc.

I have SA, too. I don't think I'd do well in sales. I don't have any genius business plans and I don't feel like going into debt to gamble that much.

Maybe I should wait until I'm, oh, 28 or so, and then decide if I'm going anywhere and what steps to take then (cessation of existence, etc.)...

 

[Opaline]

I'm very sorry you feel that way. :sad: You sound like you're completely out of options. Have you thought of doing something extreme? Not trying to sound biased here, but have you thought of moving overseas, like Australia, for a "fresh start" of sorts? It's a massive move, but it's got to be better than the abyss you're in now.

But wouldn't it be the same predicament? No money and no special qualifications to land me a decent job. I'd still be waiting tables or serving fries. Not to mention the lengthy and expensive process of obtaining a visa, passport, travel expenses, finding somewhere to live, and yeah no job prospects... :/

I would totally join the military. I'm not lazy when I'm not depressed. But I don't think I can get in. I'm still going to try but I have a few disqualifying health problems.

 

[ImNotMyIllness]

What about love? Love has a way of making everything brighter, it magnifies our senses, it makes life worth living. You're a very eligible bachelorette. Granted, you're going to have to sift through tons of frogs but their is someone out there for you that can put a spring in your step.
Why reduce everything to numbers and achievements. Better to expand it to how many times your heart almost beat out of your chest or how your breath was taken away..etc...

 

[MikeyC]

But wouldn't it be the same predicament? No money and no special qualifications to land me a decent job. I'd still be waiting tables or serving fries. Not to mention the lengthy and expensive process of obtaining a visa, passport, travel expenses, finding somewhere to live, and yeah no job prospects... :/

I would totally join the military. I'm not lazy when I'm not depressed. But I don't think I can get in. I'm still going to try but I have a few disqualifying health problems.

But in Australia, if you're having a bad time, you just go to the beach all day.

Anyway, perhaps so, but Australia's economy is reportedly better than the USA's, so there's possibly more opportunity out here for you. Universities are an option, too (many overseas students come here to study because of our system). I don't know. I'm aware it's a extreme solution, but you sound completely devoid of options and it's sad.

I dislike the military for my own reasons, but if that's what you want to do, I suggest you keep trying for that again and again (if necessary). You just never know your luck. :thumbup:

 

[Opaline]

What about love? Love has a way of making everything brighter, it magnifies our senses, it makes life worth living. You're a very eligible bachelorette. Granted, you're going to have to sift through tons of frogs but their is someone out there for you that can put a spring in your step.
Why reduce everything to numbers and achievements. Better to expand it to how many times your heart almost beat out of your chest or how your breath was taken away..etc...

Haha thanks, but... as they say, love doesn't pay the bills. It's important to me, and I don't want to put my career above my relationships. But I have to have some kind of income, and anything less than $40k is going to be practically poverty, at least relatively speaking.

 

[Opaline]

I dislike the military for my own reasons, but if that's what you want to do, I suggest you keep trying for that again and again (if necessary). You just never know your luck. :thumbup:

I dislike the military as well. The only reason I would be joining is because if you serve at least 4 years you are eligible for the GI Bill, which covers most if not all tuition towards a degree. And that is a huge load off your shoulders, which is why I can't believe I really allowed myself to waste my scholarship... but I can't change the past. It just kills me that I would have been graduating this year with a Bachelors, and yeah the job search may have not been easy but I'd have much more of a chance at landing something than I do now with absolutely nothing to show for these past 4 years except some college credit.

 

[ImNotMyIllness]

Haha thanks, but... as they say, love doesn't pay the bills. It's important to me, and I don't want to put my career above my relationships. But I have to have some kind of income, and anything less than $40k is going to be practically poverty, at least relatively speaking.

Okay. Is that the end of the world? But, with another income earner, you and your future husband might end up financially well off. You're looking at it very myopically.

 

[MikeyC]

I dislike the military as well. The only reason I would be joining is because if you serve at least 4 years you are eligible for the GI Bill, which covers most if not all tuition towards a degree. And that is a huge load off your shoulders, which is why I can't believe I really allowed myself to waste my scholarship... but I can't change the past. It just kills me that I would have been graduating this year with a Bachelors, and yeah the job search may have not been easy but I'd have much more of a chance at landing something than I do now with absolutely nothing to show for these past 4 years except some college credit.

Depression can make you do things you really regret once you're out the other end, and you have a bit more clarity on the situation.

If I had gone to University after school, I would be a vastly different person than I am today. I passed that opportunity because of depression, too.

I'm not sure what you can do except try for the military.

If I had $100,000,000, you wouldn't have to worry anymore.

 

[Opaline]

Okay. Is that the end of the world? But, with another income earner, you and your future husband might end up financially well off. You're looking at it very myopically.

No, it's not the end of the world, but then I will have let myself down. My goal was to never be poor like I was growing up. Yes, with joint income I'd be better off, but that is if I find someone and things work out... I don't know. It's still depressing. Maybe I just have to accept a lower standard of living, even though it's going to leave me with a ton of regret and depression *shrug*

If I had $100,000,000, you wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Heh, I don't think any of us would be worrying about much of anything with that kind of money. Money isn't everything, and it can't buy happiness - but it sure does help.

 

[1BlackSheep]

What about love? Love has a way of making everything brighter, it magnifies our senses, it makes life worth living. You're a very eligible bachelorette. Granted, you're going to have to sift through tons of frogs but their is someone out there for you that can put a spring in your step.
Why reduce everything to numbers and achievements. Better to expand it to how many times your heart almost beat out of your chest or how your breath was taken away..etc...

Awwww!!!! :inlove:

I dislike the military as well. The only reason I would be joining is because if you serve at least 4 years you are eligible for the GI Bill, which covers most if not all tuition towards a degree. And that is a huge load off your shoulders, which is why I can't believe I really allowed myself to waste my scholarship... but I can't change the past. It just kills me that I would have been graduating this year with a Bachelors, and yeah the job search may have not been easy but I'd have much more of a chance at landing something than I do now with absolutely nothing to show for these past 4 years except some college credit.

I still think the military would be a good option for you, for the reasons you've mentioned. Hopefully the medical issues won't disqualify you.

What about Vegas - is that still a possibility?

I think going for a respiratory therapy certificate is worthwhile, but I'd pass on going for an RN right now. There are waaaaay too many new graduates for the number of jobs available. And, at least here in my area of CA, they mostly want experienced BSNs. However, there are tons of openings for medical assistants and LVNs (due to the lower pay level than an RN), so perhaps you might consider studying for one of these if you don't get in the respiratory therapy program? A lot of people start out this way and then continue working part time while studying for their RN. And, once you're already working in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, etc. it's much easier to get promoted to a higher level. Sometimes you can get education reimbursement as well.

As others have said, you're a smart, pretty gal! Keep up the good fight - you'll get there!

 

[ImNotMyIllness]

No, it's not the end of the world, but then I will have let myself down. My goal was to never be poor like I was growing up. Yes, with joint income I'd be better off, but that is if I find someone and things work out... I don't know. It's still depressing. Maybe I just have to accept a lower standard of living, even though it's going to leave me with a ton of regret and depression *shrug*



Heh, I don't think any of us would be worrying about much of anything with that kind of money. Money isn't everything, and it can't buy happiness - but it sure does help.

Opaline............Are you kidding? If you commit suicide, you REALLY let yourself down! I know how you feel about success. I use to feel the same. I grew up wearing hand me downs. I dreamed about being successful. But, I've learned that there is more to life....a lot more. Don't pigeon hole yourself with all of these rigid expectations. It's very pretentious. You're a smart girl. Opaline, 10 yrs from now, you won't have the same goals and values. (not exactly). You're going to evolve. You still very young and have a lot to learn what makes life worth living for. Be flexible and give yourself time and room to grow. Just be the best person that you can for now. The rest will sort itself out....But, your Depression is doing most of the talking and you do need to seek help.

 

[Starry]

Overpopulation is not a reason to kill yourself... People die every day - does any one of them make a difference economically? No, because people repopulate at a faster rate... Besides if everyone started to think like that we'd have forced euthanasia put in place for everyone over a certain age or for the terminally ill so we could stop wasting money on them... Actually, that's a step closer to becoming reality here in the UK.. Some hospitals have adopted a scheme called the "Care Pathway" which removes fluid and nutrient drips from terminally ill patients in order for them to die faster, apparently "more dignified" deaths... Sometimes without notifying the family... It's come under a lot of criticism.

The LCP has continued to be controversial. It has been claimed that elderly patients were admitted to hospital for emergency treatment and put on the LCP without documented proof that the patient wanted it, or could not recover from their health problem; 48 year old Norfolk man Andrew Flanagan was revived by his family and went home for a further five weeks after doctors put him on the LCP.[24] The Royal College of Physicians found that up to half of families were not informed of clinicians’ decision to put a relative on the pathway.[25]

Writing in the Daily Mail, Patrick Pullicino has claimed that doctors' use of the LCP protocol has turned it into the equivalent of euthanasia of the elderly.[26] In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, six doctors belonging to the Medical Ethics Alliance[25] called on LCP to provide evidence that the pathway is "safe and effective, or even required", arguing that, in the elderly, natural death is more often painless, provision of fluids is the main way of easing thirst, and "no one should be deprived of consciousness except for the gravest reason."

From Wiki.

I recommend putting your goals on hold for the moment and sorting your mind out first. You're clearly suffering mentally and you will not think straight whilst that is happening. You don't have to have achieved your goals by a certain time, you have your entire life to work at them.

Also, $40,000 a year is certainly not poverty! (I know you said less than) Not even relatively. My husband and I live on less than $10,000 (once converted) and we live comfortably despite the cost of living generally being higher in the UK than the US. Now, technically, according to guidelines, my husband and I are living in "poverty" in that our income is below 60% of the median, however we don't struggle in the slightest, we still have savings, and give to charities etc...

Go see a doctor, but refuse medication, especially since you don't trust it. You need to talk to someone who can help you. Stop worrying about goals and concentrate on becoming happier.

 

[mikebird]

How would you react if police came to knock on your door, to charge you for having SA and put you on a long-term prison sentence, to clean up society, ridding the scum and make the world a better place?

Would you fall apart, lick their bootcaps and submit yourself to restraint and follow orders, or use any physical means to injure or prevent their actions?

 

[gustavofring]

Maybe talk to a career-coach or something?

I know how it can be not to know what to do with your life. But often we don't really know what's out there. I mean, it's recession is everywhere, also here in Europe. Yet people still get jobs. Perhaps there's still an opportunity for you to study on and find the thing that's really your passion and pays well.

 

[Ignace]

There is such thing as animal control. If they're with too much of them, they're being gradually killed to keep the numbers in line. Unless this happens for humans I don't see how this could be solved. Or we must go live in the desert/moon. If someone would start another world war this problem can be pushed forward for a 100 years again so, who's willing ?

 

[AGR]

as far as I know education and development equals less children per couple,so thats whats lacking these days, I was reading an article that said that the world population will actually reduce in the future,I think I even read it from this site......
As for jobs I think every job is important,it doesnt matter if its flipping burgers or what,I like to eat burgers so that job is important to me as should be to everybody else,everyone likes to eat burgers but dont want to think that the person who makes them is important,everyone plays a crucial part to keep the world going.

 

[KiaKaha]

You could always come to NZ. I will hook you into the social pipeline... a lot of what you know is in high demand here. You could get residency.

But please don't do anything crazy. You have a lot more to offer than you realize I think.