In 2008, when the economy took a dump and I got laid off, UC didn't cut the mustard. I found a job. Cleaning toilets. Literally. In a Wally World. The pay sucked, but I had a young son and food, shelter and clothing to provide. I later found a slightly better job, with very few benefits, installing milk tanks and walk-in freezers. Finally, after nearly a year and a half, a job in my own trade.
Busting your rear isn't fashionable, nor is getting sweaty and dirty. It IS self rewarding though.
During the very beginning of my journey through under-employed Hell, my now ex developed a hot gall bladder. No insurance, we went for "help" to the appropriate agencies. Just 3 weeks into unemployment, they told me that I made too much. No kidding. It took three years to pay off the hospital bills, while eating Dollar store mac and cheese and going three years without replacement clothes.
People wonder why I loathe Liberals.
Mike Rowe would probably have been the best choice to head up the unconstitutional department of education.
bmk
Excellent article, 2DV! I agree with it all and am sending it on to others.
Last year my daughter worked at the local pizza joint, her first job. After awhile she came back and said she hated it, the manager was disorganized, couldn’t (wouldn’t) get basic tasks done, etc. After a couple of days of complaining about it I told her to stop complaining, and think of ways she could improve things - even if it meant doing her manager’s job for her.
So she straightened and organized things. Took inventory. Would call other stores so they could get stuff that hadn’t been ordered to their shop. Even running across the street to the grocery store to buy supplies (mushrooms, black olives, etc.) when needed.
She still complained about her manager of course. After she quit to go back to school, the manager’s boss was emailing my daughter if she could come back and just work part time during school. By that time she had already found other work that was more flexible.
Of course making pizzas isn’t rocket science - and it’s not a career. But - the work ethic, management, people skills (irate customers), etc. - one can put those to good use in any career.
I’m a “professional”? consultant. When I’m out on projects the welders, pipe fitters, crane operators.... they all drive nicer trucks than me and talk about better vacations and bigger hunting trips. Now granted, some of them might be in debt to their eyeballs with their $80,000 truck - but I think most of them do very well.
(I tried to get my daughter into welding, but....)
I’m a huge fan of Mike Rowe’s attitude.
Years ago, I lost my job due to the economy. I fed my family by doing lots of handyman work and house painting.
One of my kids just graduated college as an aerospace engineer. His first summer home, he said he needed to find a job. I told him a buddy of mine needed a grunt for his home remodeling company. Within an hour, he was heading toward the jobsite. He worked for him for two summers and learned lifetime skills.
Another son has no interest at all in college and wants to do a trade. 100% support. He’s 18 and just got his Class A CDL to drive semi’s. He has a summer commitment and already has a job lined up in August making over $45,000. A buddy of his works for his uncle’s heavy equipment company. Someone else just offered him $16 an hour to come work for him.
Drug free tradesmen are in a position to almost name their price.
The BLS just published a statistic last week that now a record number of Americans are out of the labor force.
I have degrees in geology, pharmacy and a minor in chemistry. I obtained the money to go to school the first time by roughnecking on the drilling rigs. It was hot, dirty and dangerous. It paid well. I was lucky to have that job.
Many years later when I graduated in pharmacy I had only 8000 dollars of debt.
If you are willing to work our great nation will provide you with unlimited opportunities.
Good story and I see this a lot where I work ... a lot of younger people can’t get or keep a job because of drugs.
Last summer DD ended up working in a metal fab shop. Not her first choice, but, long story short, she showed up on time, did her job even on the hot end, didn’t complain or antagonize anybody ... and went home. Came back on time every day all summer. She had to train others of her age group who gave up after a day or two, and she had no patience for them.
Her employers were dropping big hints that if the “college thing” didn’t work out she could go back any time.
I’m glad she worked in a factory just one summer. That and baling hay for Dad and me made her appreciate college and a future accounting job :-)