I was born in the wrong year. 1986. I used to think it was because I was still in the womb when the Bears won the Super Bowl (and who knows when that will ever happen again). But now thanks to our fantastic Republican friends, I think this for a completely different reason. I've never written a diary before, but I figure this is as good a place as any to discuss my frustrations.
As you may have guessed from my user name, I attended Purdue University. A great school. I loved my time there, and although there were things like this happening:
Cindy Sheehan planned on visiting Purdue University on April 12, 2007, to give a speech on President Bush and the war in Iraq. This visit caused controversy locally and Purdue University enacted security measures not normally used around a guest speaker, such as banning signs or banners from the speech location. Some students let their opinion be known as Sheehan had a hard time speaking over the chorus of boos from those in attendance. At one point in her speech, she referred to the students heckling her as "warmongers."
I still loved my time there. (btw, my Mom is a member of Code Pink and was not happy at all about Cindy's reception. Thankfully people like her and myself were able to turn the campus, and state, blue in 08).
However, every day that goes by, I reflect less and less fondly on my days at Purdue. Sure I learned a lot, but so far, that has gotten me nowhere. I am on track to make around 8000 dollars this year. Getting my foot in the door of the "real world" has been damn near impossible. If I was born a few years earlier, I would already have the experience I need to apply for these jobs that all demand you already have 3-5 years in the field. If I was born a few years later, I would still be in school now, and job prospects would be much better when I graduate. Even many internships I see now, even the unpaid ones, already want you to have a previous internship. Talk about a vicious cycle.
Is my generation already lost? I don't know. Most of my friends who I graduated with are also struggling. My friend who is doing the best chose the old fashioned path of joining the trades (and a union, Wisconsin) and now owns his own home. I'm ecstatic for him but I have never been good with my hands. I have always relied on my mind.
I wish that everyone my age paid attention to politics. I had a John Kerry bumper sticker in high school. I felt a strong sense of civic pride when I cast my first vote and make it a point not to miss an election. Bush winning (or should I say, "winning") again in 04 has set this country back so damn far. And now with the rise of the 'Baggers, there's no telling how far back they are going to take us. Seems like it's to 1830.
I'm probably rambling a bit, as I sit here not at the petty job I do work because I now have transmission trouble, wondering how I'm going to get it fixed if I can't go to work to make the money to get it fixed. It's just one vicious cycle after another. I barely even want to go out anymore because I just get depressed seeing "normal" people actually living their lives and having money to spend on dinners with friends or movies.
I recently saw the movie The King's Speech. It was a fantastic film and I hope it wins Best Picture. The tagline for the movie is "Find Your Voice". Let me tell you, I sure am trying. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do, but I sure am trying. And again, thanks Mom and Dad. Couldn't have waited a couple extra years to create me?!?!
