Posted on 02/24/2005 9:12:40 AM PST by Willie Green
A waitress at one of my favorite Strip District restaurants last week used one of the industry's oldest cliches. She delivered a meal and reminded me that she "really didn't do this" for a living.
Waiting tables, she explained, was simply something she was doing until a well-paying job opened up in the field she studied during six years in college.
While this is rote conversation for wait staff in places like New York and Los Angeles, where everyone with a tray of linguini in their hands is waiting for a slot on NBC's "Fear Factor," it's unusual for Pittsburgh.
Or is it?
The waitress, it turns out, spent all that time and nearly $150,000 of her family's money studying social sciences, but after graduating she became disappointed with the entry-level salary of her chosen field.
"I can make, like, twice what I'd make as a social worker waiting tables," she confided, "so I'm probably going to just stay here."
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
Yup. I quit college with 96 hours completed. Twenty years later, it doesn't matter that I can run circles around the majority of college graduates in my field. No four-year degree equals a closed door a great deal of the time. So even though I work for myself, I'm going back and will have a BS in digital forensics in about a year and a half.
MM
I can be pedantic if I want to. I been to college.
No personal experience, but my four year old daughter is taking a dance class (she's a ballerina!) and here's an observation. Her class has 10 or so other munchkins in it and is affiliated with the YMCA. Class costs $120 for 8 weeks, and meets once a week. She also teaches 7 other classes of differing experience levels, each of which meets for an hour a week, same number of students. So, for a total of 8 hours of actual instruction per week, 6 class cycles per year, she pulls in close to $60K. Not bad for doing what you love. Oh and she sells the shoes and tutus too, so she gets a commission on the sales.
The artcile said she was on the 6-year program: you know, register for 4.5 classes, drop the toughest one mid-semester, on the eve of the 'drop' deadline, drop another one, repeat for each semester, then have to attend classes one summer, in order to get your valuable degree in 6 years.
I couldn't wait to get out of college when I was there 1986-1990! I think most students want to stay these days!
. . . social security . . .
How true. Rushing someone off to college or pushing them into choosing a career at 18 that they may have to live with their entire life may not work for some people. For most it is probably good to go to college right away. For some others waiting a few years to figure out what it is you really want is the right choice too. Everyone is different. A good choice for one is a bad choice for another person.
Excellent.
BTW, what shifted me into high gear was back in the early nineties I picked up a six tape series called "The psychology of winning," by Dennis Waitley. I then followed it up with a 24 tape series by Brian Tracy (I forget the name). I still listen to the tapes as they require multiple listenings. My income increased 14 fold during this time.
The secret formula to ALL of this is:
(IA + AA) x A = PA
Where:
IA = Inborn Attributes
AA = Acquired attributes
A = Attitude
PA = Personal Achievment
You will notice that Attitude is a MULTIPLIER (if you get my drift).
This formula, applied intelligently to a persons life, is more powerful than a nuclear blast.
It literally IS the secret to success, IN ALL AREAS OF YOUR LIFE, beyond the power of the Lord in your life, of course.
You're right. A few years back our company tried for months to hire someone who could read blue prints. People applied and were interviewed wanting the moon simply because they had a "BS" degree.
Finally, we hired a Yale graduate who majored in Architecture and design. 90 days into the hire, we learned that he did not even know how to read blue prints, let alone know how to do a material take off from them.
Over the years we found that more often than not, the universities were churning out degreed grads the way the public schools were churning out diplomas to kids who can't read. And the universities convince the grads that once they have that "degree," they were worth their salary demands without a clue to the reality of the job world they were entering.
It was at this point we determined that the "BS" degree had more than one meaning.
What a loser ... SIX YEARS AT COLLEGE ... $150,000 of her family's money studying social sciences ? What a moroon!
Looks like another mindless leftist!
What a loser ... SIX YEARS AT COLLEGE ... $150,000 of her family's money studying social sciences ? What a moroon!
Looks like another mindless leftist!
Useless degree ping.
150k for a worthless degree???? WHAT AN IDIOT! I wouldn't hire her for anything after showing that stupidity.
She showed no respect for her parents money by spending 150k on an education that if she was the best of the best in her field would likely top out around 75kish.
This shows poor planning for her own LIFE! If she plans that poorly for her own life, I don't want her involved in planning anything regarding my business.
I recently read that Sinkspur has two sons that are police officers. He might have some for you.
I sing a lot of Bach, Purcell, Handel.... I was an early music major as an undergrad...
plus my latest recital featured the Seven Spanish Songs of de Falla...
Harry Truman was one of those self-taught history students.
I think he used to say "the only thing new in the world is the history you DON'T know." Mr. Truman loved history.
Well, wherever you work, it seems they are lucky to have you! Good for you!
Totally!
I prayed for you. Kudos for what you have done. May you be able to get something that would help support your kids and may your DH be well again.
So true. I admit that my college ed didn't prepare me 100% for an entry level job, but that was mainly my fault. I do give credit to the program I was in, however, because the education focused on research rather than job skills (so its not like they didn't teach us anything).
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