Fell into the trap

Well I took the bait hook line and sinker. I did as I was told all my life. I graduated highschool and went to follow on my education with collage. Well what the hell did that get me. Yes I have a degree but so what. I am almost 100k in debt and can barely make it paycheck to paycheck. But here is the real kicker, I ran into an old friend from highschool and he is doing great (really happy he is) But he started working straight out of highschool got onthe job experience and started advancing. We work in the same field and he gets paid more then I do. He doesn't have student loans looming over his head. he can afford to live in the nice part of town. WTF Im happy for the guy but damn. Why are we telling our youth to spend tens of thounends $$$$ to go to school. Im thirty and I will not be done paying these loans off till Im 50. What is that when Im supposed to start living.?

Yeah..the grand illusion that they drill into your head early in life.
Iam sorry you learned the hard way.
This is how they constantly keep cash flowing in and make sure you really ARE working for THE MAN..not just in taxes, but debt, right from the get-go.
I didn't fall into the trap..but many my age are going back to school now and taking on the load at mid-life just because the job market has changed.
I won't fall into it.
I was tempted..but there are better ways to re-invent oneself.

yip tip yip, the socialised world of today..., we should if going for that extra education be guarenteed a job in the real world, then it would be fair....

But unfortunately , if life was that easy, then there would be bigger questions to ask, everyone would be equal , then what would the meaning of it all be, we wouldnt have the want anymore, my biggest advice is get rid of the debt, pump as much extra cash into that debt as possible, cut the credit cards up stop buying on credit, think to yourself, do i really really need it, if you dont dont buy it...

Dude there are 100000's of jobs out there, keep your eyes pealed, do your best at all times and stay possitive, dont let the success of others get you down ever, i believe that what you contantly think in your mind will develop..

Good Luck Brotha

Luck is luck...

Personally, if I hadn't gone back and earned my 4 yr degree, I wouldn't have the job I have now, and I'd be making a lot less money without that piece of paper...

Now, I have my Masters, so I'm looking for more opportunities, even if it's staying in the same place, and teaching part-time, etc.

Gazrok has a great point...( Hey ol' FL buddy! )

You can't predict if/when you'll be pulling the short stick, but that luck can only take you so far anyways - At a certain point it becomes accepting the past for what it is and moving forward, knowing that you cannot change things but only strive to make them better.

For example, in most job fields, simply having a 4 year degree instantly pushes you into an income bracket you couldn't have achieved even after working at the same place for 10-15 years...

A steady, reliable source of income in a secure work environment is what you should strive for - The more years you put in, hopefully the more they reward you and those loan repayments may start to shave off...

Of course, that says nothing about "the system" which indeed is quite flawed - But perhaps in all that anger, we can all find a little motivation to persevere...