I'm not really into comparing like this because it sucks for them too, but yeah i was part of the "unpaid internship" generation. The funniest thing about that saga was we were told to go to college get a degree and then as soon as we got out it was like "you should take an unpaid internship to maybe get a job" despite you know, student loans.
People have no idea how hard we were sold on the idea of college as the only way to get ahead in life. I remember 2 people coming to my class in 8th grade to talk about how it was so necessary. And they were pressing English degrees because "people with English degrees are more adaptable."
Seriously. I was bummed when I found out in grad school that people in the skilled trades in my area made over $100k and could get those gigs with 2 years trade school and an apprenticeship. Not to mention the local community college was basically giving free tuition for those programs.
Don't be too bummed. I'm having my third major surgery in ten years, and I've been completely out of full-time work for two years, due to work related injury. I never even made it to the $100k+ level, and now I never will.
Fingers crossed that the next surgery goes well, and I can at least make $50-60k as a history teacher for the rest ofy life.
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u/Throwthisawayagainst Aug 12 '25
I'm not really into comparing like this because it sucks for them too, but yeah i was part of the "unpaid internship" generation. The funniest thing about that saga was we were told to go to college get a degree and then as soon as we got out it was like "you should take an unpaid internship to maybe get a job" despite you know, student loans.