Anybody else depressed with life after college?

pjoasisrule

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

GraySaturday

I wasn't depressed, but more like.. eh.. what now?

I mean I have a degree in Painting.. so I was kinda like.. WTF??


I felt a lot better when I got into Graduate school.. at least I have some direction now.

pjoasisrule

GraySaturday wrote:

I wasn't depressed, but more like.. eh.. what now?

I mean I have a degree in Painting.. so I was kinda like.. WTF??


I felt a lot better when I got into Graduate school.. at least I have some direction now.

Did you try looking at all for jobs? What are you going to graduate school for?

GraySaturday

pjoasisrule wrote:

Did you try looking at all for jobs? What are you going to graduate school for?

Yes, I've been out of school for over 2 years now, and I looked for jobs in the art field. I interviewed for many gallery positions a while ago, but the pay was so low, I couldn't make ends meet on 10 dollars an hour as a career. In college I also was an education major for a while, as I wanted to be a teacher, but art won out at the time, so I went through with painting. Now I realize the mistake I made in getting the art degree, and not the education degree. So I am going to grad school for Elem. Education, and when I'm done I will be fully certified in both general elem. ed, and also art education for elementary level.

I work with a child right now on a part time basis and as a personal assistant.. It pays the bills very well, and the at least the child part is related to education.

pjoasisrule

GraySaturday wrote:

Yes, I've been out of school for over 2 years now, and I looked for jobs in the art field. I interviewed for many gallery positions a while ago, but the pay was so low, I couldn't make ends meet on 10 dollars an hour as a career. In college I also was an education major for a while, as I wanted to be a teacher, but art won out at the time, so I went through with painting. Now I realize the mistake I made in getting the art degree, and not the education degree. So I am going to grad school for Elem. Education, and when I'm done I will be fully certified in both general elem. ed, and also art education for elementary level.

I work with a child right now on a part time basis and as a personal assistant.. It pays the bills very well, and the at least the child part is related to education.

I have a bachelors in art as well with a concentration on graphic design, besides a few freelance jobs.......I havent done anything yet. I have been working as a fitness trainer right now but people are too poor around here to afford that so things have been really slow. I am thinking about trying substitute teaching but I am pretty sure I do not want to be a teacher.

GraySaturday

pjoasisrule wrote:

I have a bachelors in art as well with a concentration on graphic design, besides a few freelance jobs.......I havent done anything yet. I have been working as a fitness trainer right now but people are too poor around here to afford that so things have been really slow. I am thinking about trying substitute teaching but I am pretty sure I do not want to be a teacher.

Come to Chicago.. Seems the personal trainers here make a killing. Do you work for a gym, or a personal training studio? My gym just had an open call to trainers today. My location just opened and seems everyone but me hired a trainer.. they do pretty well it seems.

If you're not sure that you want to teach, subing may be the totally wrong way to do it. I'd be scared to sub because I've heard it sucks so much it can scare people off. haha.

SVRDhand13

I graduated in May and am now living at home waiting for Law School to start. My friends live all over the place and I miss getting heavily intoxicated. This summer is strange.

pjoasisrule

GraySaturday wrote:

Come to Chicago.. Seems the personal trainers here make a killing. Do you work for a gym, or a personal training studio? My gym just had an open call to trainers today. My location just opened and seems everyone but me hired a trainer.. they do pretty well it seems.

If you're not sure that you want to teach, subing may be the totally wrong way to do it. I'd be scared to sub because I've heard it sucks so much it can scare people off. haha.

Do you live in the city or the suburbs? The school where I was certified was in Lisle but it would be hard for me to live there right away because it is so expensive.

GraySaturday

pjoasisrule wrote:

Do you live in the city or the suburbs? The school where I was certified was in Lisle but it would be hard for me to live there right away because it is so expensive.

I live in the city

you could be my trainer.. but I'd have to pay you in smiles because smiles come cheap

haha..

pjoasisrule

GraySaturday wrote:

I live in the city

you could be my trainer.. but I'd have to pay you in smiles because smiles come cheap

haha..

You would be easy to train........we could have conversations about music in between sets.

mca47

I graduated 4 years back. It took about 9 months for me to land a job. Now I'm pretty much set and have a guaranteed job forever.

That said, I really really miss college!!! :(

God, those were the days!!

GraySaturday

pjoasisrule wrote:

You would be easy to train........we could have conversations about music in between sets.

Sold! when do we start??? I know a lot of rich people.. I could pay in smiles, but hook you up with some people that actually have money.. its a win win situation.

The Champ

I miss beer pong..it's just not the same with my wife..:(

Ledbetterman10

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

finally, a pjoasisrule thread that I can relate to. yeah, I'm a few years out and not exactly setting the world on fire. but at least I have my health.

The Champ

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

but at least I have my health.

And let's not forgot the old wrestling action figures ..

Ledbetterman10

The Champ wrote:

And let's not forgot the old wrestling action figures ..

ya know I bet there still are a few of those down my mom's basement. I remember having Million Dollar Man and Hulkster among others

The Champ

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

ya know I bet there still are a few of those down my mom's basement. I remember having Million Dollar Man and Hulkster among others

I was always a Macho Man fan myself..ooooh yeah.....Jake the Snake was cool too..

Ledbetterman10

The Champ wrote:

I was always a Macho Man fan myself..ooooh yeah.....Jake the Snake was cool too..

I don't have much wrestling stuff left but I know that my mom still has all my Ghostbuster and Ninja Turtle stuff. a lot of Ghostbuster stuff let me tell you.

those were the days.....running around my house looking for ectoplasmic residue

The Champ

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

I don't have much wrestling stuff left but I know that my mom still has all my Ghostbuster and Ninja Turtle stuff. a lot of Ghostbuster stuff let me tell you.

those were the days.....running around my house looking for ectoplasmic residue

We should chill as we have a lot in common, ledbetterman..Ghostbusters was the shit!! I remember when I was a kid, my older sister spent months making one of those backpack things for my birthday, coz we were dirt poor for a while and couldn't afford real toys..but man I had a ton of fun with that thing..that is till I sat on it the following day :(..

WindyCityFlyer

Yeah, that's why I'm going to Grad school.

LikeAnOcean

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

Same situation, 4 years after college here..

IndianSummer

an hour back i finished attending what was the last class of my MBA course. I feel numb.

Thorns2010

Fuck college, what a waste of money. But yet, you can't get a good job without a college education. What to do, what to do?

I dropped out of college after 2 and a half years of me hating it the whole time, and getting a good number of F's along the way.

I'm not stupid or anything, I just found the whole process a complete waste of my time, and genreals are just an excuse for them to get more money out of me!!!

I then went back to a 'trade' school, and did get an AAS degree. Assiocaties Of Apliled Sciences in Sound Engineering. That was a fucking waste of time and money as well.

So here I sit living at home with my parents/well dad since mom died 3 months ago, and in a crappy retail job for a company that is run like shit.

Man, if I wasn't already suicidal this path of my life would make me!!

nuffingman

I'm depressed after leaving college. I left 34 years ago!

3inputchick

Go to grad school silly! Perfect excuse to not really get a job for another 4 years and still look productive!
YAY

Jason P

Graduating college was like have a 1,000 pound weight taken off of my shoulders. The constant pressure of exams and studying 24/7 was tough for four straight years. I was an engineering major and knowing that a one-question exam in thermodynamics controls 20% of your overall grade is maddening.

With my job, at least I can leave the pressure at work and go home and relax at the end of the day. Plus, I’m getting paid money instead of paying money (which is nice). My whole outlook on life changed after getting my degree. I lost 40 pounds and all the angst in my life disappeared.

Of course as they say, different strokes for different folks. Good luck in finding a good job and paying your loans off.

markymark550

I wasn't depressed so much as I was stressed out about not finding a job other than the part-time job that I was already working at. Being on my own with just a lower paying part-time job doesn't pay all the bills and my savings were running out. Everywhere I applied/interviewed with for 4 months didn't pan out so I was getting kind of desperate. Thankfully, the place of my part-time job had an entry level position in my field and they offered me the job.

given2fly78

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

It took me almost 4 years after graduating w/ my bachelors to get really comfortable. I think that's typical. Figure, you have a lot of competition out there! Don't get down, it's not just you!

I had a BS in Business, minor in Spanish, did an internship in London and an internship throughout my senior year so I was pretty well prepared. Got a job with the company I was interning for and one day I went to go to work and POOF! They had gone bankrupt, doors locked and they had told nobody. I spend 8 months on unepmployment. Got a new job w/ a non-profit (yeah....non-profit means NOBODY makes money LOL!) and a few months later I left because my dad had a brain aneurysm. Things led to other things and finally it was go back and get my masters or wait and find out if I got this other job (I got the job) which led me to where I am now.

But it takes time, being (yes) depressed, I realized that going through the bad made me really appreciate what I have now. And trust me, with the way the economy is now, I'm a bit worried!

My little sis just graduated with her 4 year and she realized she needs to get her Masters. She can't get a job in her field without it. She's waitressing. After 4 years of college.

So, it's not just you!

know1

Life got a lot better for me after college. I didn't have to work so hard (full-time job plus full load of classes) and I actually had at least a little money and didn't have to retire to my single rented room and eat ramen noodles or peanut butter every night. I also bought a car that was only a few years old as opposed to one that was almost 20 years old and had rusted through the floorboard.

eyedclaar

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

Interesting. I have a career and don't struggle to pay my bills and yet I too am very pessimistic about the world.

weenie

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I have tons of great experience working for big companies and I can't find a job either (unless I want to work for $17 an hour). Things out there are much worse than the government and the media will concede. It's a really tough time for America and the middle class. I feel your pain and wish you luck. If I were your age, I wouldn't be NEARLY as worried as I am now, so thank your lucky stars that you're young. Most companies will hire a young person over an older person any day.