Portrait: Spanish Fork, Utah

I read about Cait from Massachusetts and decided now was the perfect time to paint my own portrait. I am the girl that no one thinks exists: I am a 23 year old undergraduate student with no debt whatsoever. By August I will have my bachelor’s degree in English with High Honor’s. I have paid for every cent of my education in cold hard cash. There is one highlight to the start of a new semester and that is withdrawing around $2,000 from my savings account and handing it over to the Cashier’s Office on campus. I work three jobs and take around 18 credit hours of school. I pay for my car, insurance, phone, food, clothing, tuition, books, student fees and everything else. By the grace of my good parents, I am able to sleep in the basement. I owe nothing for my education except perhaps some overdue attention to my social life and the ones I love. The little debt I have is wrapped up in a gas efficient, mediocre car. Some could say that I have it quite nicely.

Truth is, I’ve worked hard to be broke-ass poor and owe nothing. My fiancé makes perhaps the most sacrifices when it comes to my schedule. I am busy 24/7 between a large extended family, work, school and him. Soon I will begin looking for jobs. In Utah, women rarely find huge success in business. Rather they find their success in their homes with their spouce and children. I’ve known for years that my lot in life would be different. Eventually Adam and I will have children, but until then, and perhaps even after, I will be the main bread-winner. My chances are slim but I am a fighter.

English majors have it tough even in the best economy. Many think we’re trained to read books and spell words correctly. Unfortunately this is what President Bush would call a “misunderestimation.” In the past four years I have been trained to think critically about most everything around me including but not limited to books. I have been taught that language and its precision is necessary for a business to survive. I have learned that the key to success comes from dedication and excellent communication. This makes me valuable to companies needing someone in communication, administration and public relations. Yet, CEO’s and HR Personnel end up throwing away the English major’s application for such jobs in exchange for those who picked business, communication or HR majors. The problem is that these majors don’t focus on the same critical skills that I’ve been working in for 4 years now.

My choices stand thusly: Another bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Grad School for a Master’s or PhD program, Law School, Hope of finding a job that actually utilizes my degree or working the three jobs I have now. The economy isn’t getting better and many students are staying in school to ride out the bad situation. I just don’t think I’ll be able to do this along with them.

I have busted my ass to be where I am today. Had I the sufficient income, my credit is such that I could buy a house. This would help the economy as I’d have to outfit the house as well as pay for the property taxes etc. But how can you buy a house if you don’t have the kind of job that allows for such an expense? I’m caught in a catch-22 while others around me are struggling to keep up on their own payments. I am much better off than a lot are. And I really have nothing much to bellyache about except for the prejudices held against the major that I picked and paid for. I have enough in the checking account to make my payments and a little extra to stash in savings for next semester. I work at a job that is unlikely to let me go despite how horribly I hate it. As my 82 year old great granny would say “Thank God you have a job.” And I do.


Jen
Spanish Fork, Utah.

Portrait: Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake is not one of those cities that people flock to. Its easy to be a big fish here because it is the small pond most speak about when using cliches. We tend to be behind on most things and the economy is one of them. We haven't had the housing crisis. My parents are still successfully flipping houses. The one area we are feeling the crunch is in the job market. Here is my story....

I became pregnant with my beautiful daughter after knowing my boyfriend for 3 months. When we met he was a county firefighter and because he was with the wild land division his job ends in October of every year and starts up again in March/April. He started looking for a job and did not find anything until March of 2008, almost 6 months after firefighting ended. He was only able to find employment at a restaurant/pub so that was bringing in little money. He was unable to go back to the fire crew summer of 2008 due to the birth of our daughter. He found another job that was a 3 hour commute each way with a 8 days on 8 days off schedule working with a youth wilderness program. I had an emergency c-section in Aug 2008 and he lost his job because he had to report for duty 3 days after our daughter was born and I was pretty much immobile. He then did not find employment until October of 2008. I have been supporting us with my part time job at Continental Airlines and my student loans. I am currently making a whopping 8 dollars an hour and being held to 20 hours a week. I did not get paid maternity so that was just another blow to our finances. I am currently 75,000 into my student loans and am delaying graduation until I can find a job that will pay me more then my current student loan payment of 1000.00 a month. Considering what I will pay in childcare (I currently work at home during the night so when my baby is sleeping) most jobs will not pay me enough. Because I work for the airline industry I have had to survive layoffs twice in 2008. At any moment I can lose my job and will have to go back on food stamps because my boyfriend only makes 1200.00 a month at his job at a youth rehab. I am know looking at the prospect that my student grants will be cut off due to my state's budget issues which cut higher education grants as well as increased tuition... this will put me into repayment of my loan. Forget trying to save anything because there has to be a remainder from the bills to put into savings which there just isn't any.

I voted for Obama because I am looking at grim prospects. I am 26 with a child and have a bleak future. My college degree is worth nothing (double major political science and history). I can not go to law school as planned because of the loan freezes. I don't know which way is up and I am trying to be productive member of society but its hard when the economy just keeps kicking me down.

I am disgusted at the way my state handles taxpayer funds. Just last week I saw on the news that although the legislature had to cut 1 billion out of state programs, they are going to start a legal fight to challenge Roe v Wade. The reporter suggested that it will cost at least 10 million to get to the Supreme Court. When I look at my representation I know that I am not the future. I am the "liberal" and therefore my opinion and job are not worth the fight. I would move but with what money? what job?

Its hard not to be depressed in these depressing times.

Lindsay
Salt Lake City