Has everything been in vain?

[IHaveRespawned]

Like most, I started school at the age of 6 where we were required to attend 180 school days a year for the next 12 years of our life. With assloads of homework our parents struggled to help us with and even summer reading assignments, we were told if we worked hard and achieved good grades, success was paved ahead for us. Then, if that wasn't enough, we were strongly encouraged to attend postsecondary education to further our chances of success and have a competitive advantage.

Fast forwarding today, my generation is fucked royally. A large swath of us is reliant on our parents for housing and even finances. Then to rub salt in the wounds, many are graduating college with 4 year degrees still having to work fast food or wait tables. Even further, we are told that AI automation will cause a "white-collar bloodbath".

My mother told me one of her friends is less than 10 years from retirement and having to return to college for a different degree. Another friend of hers is having to pick up a job despite being disabled. This is a catastrophe.

If you are wondering why this whole phenomenon of NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) is on the rise among GenZ, look at all the lies and broken promises we were fed our entire lives.

Yes

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[YourFutureEx]

You can only make the ends meet with jobs that require education. You cannot buy a house, let alone luxury. That's the truth of today's world. You will need talent, luck and risk to make money.

So, why are you told to study even though it barely pays you? Because at least it pays you. It's better to be depressed with a little money and having knowledge than being totally broke and dumb. Education is the plan B. Not the plan A. You make your own plan A.

[IHaveRespawned]

I am telling you, life is short. I left my career twice now. First, it was EMS. The most recent, I was working in tech. Now, after 25 jobs and 20 hospitalizations while severely mentally ill, I am trying to figure out what to do next. I am exhausted, burned out, and back to square one as always. It is an endless cycle.

Why does it have to be difficult to get a job, be able to put in a hard day's of work, go home, spend time with family, and repeat? There is always some loophole or condition introduced to challenge this process. And people have become so jaded to where they point the finger at the individual and claim "they aren't trying hard enough".

[YourFutureEx]

Do not care about what people say and do whatever you feel like where you belong and be most comfortable with.

The journey may seem overwhelming but you do not need to think about all that. Think about your next step and just take it. Gradual progress will land you in a better place.

[Sunrising]

Life is a struggle, I can give you a similar story, but I feel all the effort and commitment pays off in the end. There are opportunities out there, you need the confidence to search for them, knowing you are capable of holding down these jobs. There's no point in calling the system, you need to make the system work for you.

[msc545]

A four year degree is worth nearly nothing today and is the equivalent of a high school diploma at best. Another two years and a Master's degree would have worked wonders for you - and still will.

[Ariesman81]

Trades man... trades. Its the most necessary part of society.