"Weathering the Economic Storm"

       "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.