I am not a quitter. In fact, I think that to an extent it has been my greatest downfall in certain areas of my life. I like to be right. Sometimes, I really hope that I am wrong, and it frustrates me to no possible end to not feel comfortable or certain about an outcome.
Welcome to the life of a 25 year old in the blue collar city of Philadelphia.
It's difficult to say it like that without implying that there is some external excuse for my inability to find a job in a matter of two weeks, as one would if they were in Washington, D.C. This campaign was really helpful, because it put me in touch with some very knowledgeable people, and my ability to focus helped me to capitalize on the opportunity to learn from them. But, now that the election is over, I need a job, Philadelphia. What I would really like is a job that allows me to help people. Some sort of community outreach job has my name written all over it. I love to work with people and for people. It makes me feel purposeful, as egotistical as that sounds. I thought about lobbying, advocacy, some sort of urban policy program, etc. But all of these sorts of jobs require that I am qualified (but not over-qualified) to implement these initiatives. They also require that I have some sort of master's degree or law degree.
I understand it, I respect it, however, it clearly is to my detriment and for many people like me, people who need jobs to go back to school, this continues to be a losing battle. We find ourselves being patronized by working at wages that don't allow us to be self sufficient, living with each other or our parents, five years away from thirty. It's depressing as hell. I don't even understand how people are getting married. It costs too much to live. Can I live?!
I want to help others, but it's occurred to me that I am the one who needs help. I can't afford to go back to school. I can't afford to miss any bills, but I can't afford to pay them either. Disillusionment about college is beginning to settle with a sense of permanence, but I have to try, because if I don't at least try, I will not survive. It's time that we all begin to get paid what we're worth. This recession business is a terrible shield that protects companies, a convenient excuse for everything. It makes me really angry.
It also reminds me of our civic duty. We need to vote. We need to have an opinion about every damn piece of legislature that is passed about budgets, consumer laws, credit reports, etc., jobs, economic development, transportation hikes... Raise hell if you have to. Shut down the banks and move your money if you have to. What little some of us have, that is. It's time to hold our legislators accountable, with a tremendous sense of urgency. The young professionals are being lost in the shuffle without much support and it's unfair.
Because, really, this recession business is bullsh*t. I have bills to pay and I am not protected. It's making life really hard for all of us who've worked hard. If I start a movement, I wonder who will be with me?
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