- Mar 26, 2005
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So here's my story... Fresh out of High School, I got very ill. I had to drop out of several colleges because of my health and did very poorly in college. Eventually, in the course of the next 11 years, I barely managed to get an AS Liberal Arts in a community college and at around 25 I tried to do a 4 year school again. Same thing happened. Health suffered, had to drop out.
At 29, I found a crappy private school and enrolled, because small size classes, and friendly environment were easier for me to handle. I first got a BS in Data Communications, and then an MS in Information Systems. I also got a CompTIA A+ Certification.
Now here's my problem. After all that schooling, I can honestly admit that they didn't really teach me anything. Well, that or barely thought me anything at all. My Information systems program was heavily focused on Web Development. I learned the basics of HTML, JavaScript and CSS. And that's pretty much it. The rest was useless fluff! In the course of the program I realized I hate programming with all my heart. It's boring, too difficult, tedious, and just not my thing. But I pressed on, not wanting to waste the time I put into that degree.
So here I am today, with a Masters Degree I might as well shove up my *** and a shitty 36k/year job as a help-desk support technician. When I ask myself what I can do today, the answer is pretty much just "fix and troubleshoot computers". I cant say I know much of anything else.
I don't think going back to school at 35 to start all over again in a different direction would be a good idea. I honestly don't think I can handle it all, what with all that Trigonometry, Pre-Calulus and Calculus they will most definitely bombard me with. I would most definitely get sick again with all the stress, and will be forced to drop out. I barely remember any programming, and I don't think I want to do it.
What would you do if you were in my situation? How can I break this deadly cycle and hopefully get a 70/80k/year job? 36k is just not enough to make any kind of a living in New York City.
A lot of people say... "Well, what do you expect? You don't know shit, and you are not marketable. You didn't go to a prestigious college, and did not get a good education. No wonder you are stuck in this position!"
Hearing things like this, doesn't help. I wonder what I can do in my particular situation to help myself.
At 29, I found a crappy private school and enrolled, because small size classes, and friendly environment were easier for me to handle. I first got a BS in Data Communications, and then an MS in Information Systems. I also got a CompTIA A+ Certification.
Now here's my problem. After all that schooling, I can honestly admit that they didn't really teach me anything. Well, that or barely thought me anything at all. My Information systems program was heavily focused on Web Development. I learned the basics of HTML, JavaScript and CSS. And that's pretty much it. The rest was useless fluff! In the course of the program I realized I hate programming with all my heart. It's boring, too difficult, tedious, and just not my thing. But I pressed on, not wanting to waste the time I put into that degree.
So here I am today, with a Masters Degree I might as well shove up my *** and a shitty 36k/year job as a help-desk support technician. When I ask myself what I can do today, the answer is pretty much just "fix and troubleshoot computers". I cant say I know much of anything else.
I don't think going back to school at 35 to start all over again in a different direction would be a good idea. I honestly don't think I can handle it all, what with all that Trigonometry, Pre-Calulus and Calculus they will most definitely bombard me with. I would most definitely get sick again with all the stress, and will be forced to drop out. I barely remember any programming, and I don't think I want to do it.
What would you do if you were in my situation? How can I break this deadly cycle and hopefully get a 70/80k/year job? 36k is just not enough to make any kind of a living in New York City.
A lot of people say... "Well, what do you expect? You don't know shit, and you are not marketable. You didn't go to a prestigious college, and did not get a good education. No wonder you are stuck in this position!"
Hearing things like this, doesn't help. I wonder what I can do in my particular situation to help myself.