The Golden Ticket
I only have enough money to get to class two of the three days I need to be there this week.
I know that the past year has been a recession story like many, many other Americans. You know, I really believe that the game is forever changed for Americans. I came of age in the sky's the limit 90's. Everyone believed if you went to a good school, had great skills, you were going to make great money. You'd be able to buy a home, a nice car, and have some nice vacations, raise a family. The American dream. When I got accepted to Vanderbilt, I felt like I'd been handed a golden ticket. All I had to do was be good and follow the rules.
The American dream is dead. I wish it weren't so. I don't blame Obama or The Shrub. This is merely the culmination of many changes globally. And of course, greed. The American empire probably was going to have to decline at some point. It doesn't matter that I wish it wasn't during my prime.
Most of my friends (especially the ones who weren't born with silver spoons in their mouths) have crushing student loan debts, parents and other family members in financial distress.
So, my goal is merely to develop a lot of skills, work as much as I can and live as austerely as possible.
I've been developing a new appreciation for free things. The library. Health clinics. Parks. Art and exercise. I can't afford to go out to eat so I'm going to try to learn how to cook well, cheaply, and healthy at home. I'm also trying to downscale my lifestyle expectations. I still would like to own a home, but where I used to dream of a four bedroom with a backyard and a pool. Now, I dream of a two bedroom townhome with nice furniture, and a small mortgage with a low interest rate. That I can pay off in 15 years. I want to be as close to debt free as possible by 50.
I am trying to look at these changes as a reflection on the impermanence of so many things in life, as well as a need for many of us to examine what really has value and meaning for us. I feel like America is in some sort of karmic lesson for focusing so much of our energy on the material and the disposable. Maybe all these changes aren't a disaster but merely a correction...at least for folks like me.
I know that the past year has been a recession story like many, many other Americans. You know, I really believe that the game is forever changed for Americans. I came of age in the sky's the limit 90's. Everyone believed if you went to a good school, had great skills, you were going to make great money. You'd be able to buy a home, a nice car, and have some nice vacations, raise a family. The American dream. When I got accepted to Vanderbilt, I felt like I'd been handed a golden ticket. All I had to do was be good and follow the rules.
The American dream is dead. I wish it weren't so. I don't blame Obama or The Shrub. This is merely the culmination of many changes globally. And of course, greed. The American empire probably was going to have to decline at some point. It doesn't matter that I wish it wasn't during my prime.
Most of my friends (especially the ones who weren't born with silver spoons in their mouths) have crushing student loan debts, parents and other family members in financial distress.
So, my goal is merely to develop a lot of skills, work as much as I can and live as austerely as possible.
I've been developing a new appreciation for free things. The library. Health clinics. Parks. Art and exercise. I can't afford to go out to eat so I'm going to try to learn how to cook well, cheaply, and healthy at home. I'm also trying to downscale my lifestyle expectations. I still would like to own a home, but where I used to dream of a four bedroom with a backyard and a pool. Now, I dream of a two bedroom townhome with nice furniture, and a small mortgage with a low interest rate. That I can pay off in 15 years. I want to be as close to debt free as possible by 50.
I am trying to look at these changes as a reflection on the impermanence of so many things in life, as well as a need for many of us to examine what really has value and meaning for us. I feel like America is in some sort of karmic lesson for focusing so much of our energy on the material and the disposable. Maybe all these changes aren't a disaster but merely a correction...at least for folks like me.