"Study: College Grads Weathering Economic Storm"
written by Menachem Wecker and published in US News, is an article which
reiterates somewhat commonly known knowledge- that being, college graduates, on
average, not only earn more than high school graduates, but also have a better
chance at acquiring and keeping their job. Statistics are given to back up
these fact go to show that while there is significant unemployment among people
of all education levels, it is better for some than others.
A metaphor given in the article says, "When it rains
hard enough and long enough, everyone gets a little wet". The rain is a
symbol for our economic recession, and being wet is a symbol of it's influence
on others. This metaphor describes how, given adequate conditions, the economic
recession has the potential to affect everyone.
The recession has directly affected me and my family. In
the spring of this year I had been notified that my dad had gotten laid off at
the casino in Vegas he worked at for nearly 20 years. Because my father paid
for a large portion of my rent, I was suddenly put into a position of having to
completely provide for myself. I never really knew how bad the recession was
until I submitted 19 job applications in the month of January, and another 15
in the following month. Of the 34 job applications I sent, I had three call
backs, one interview, and zero success.
I found it astounding how so many of my job applications got denied.
Being a full-time student-athlete, I had to consider the possibility of me
putting my education and sports on hold in order to keep my home. Luckily, I
was finally able to hold a steady job in March, but still had to pull a large
sum of money from my savings which was supposed to be locked. I also had to
drop my evening classes in order to work, which has only prolonged the amount
of time I need to stay at the JC until I transfer. I consider myself lucky in
comparison to the many who have completely lost their source of income and
still haven't found a job, but I did have a taste of the recession first hand.