Last night I spoke with a Mom who has a son that is in the same boat as I am. Graduated Computer Engineer from Clarkston University. Promised he would have 10 job offers when he graduated. Was so excited about going into the field. Loved computers and what they could do...

But he's flipping pizza dough and working in a grocery store.

I'm not in as much of a dire situation as he is, but on the other hand, I'm working with High School students who don't have degrees and know how a computer works just from tinkering with it. That's not a bad thing, but one major link between me and this mother's son was the question we are both asking ourselves. Was it really worth all the money and time?

No one can't doubt the value of a degree. I see people who are in their forties and fifties and are locked into their jobs because everything else that is in their field now requires a degree. So they either have to live with their current jobs, which can be hell, or risk starting over at minimum wage, which can be hell. But on the other hand, I have a very sucessful uncle who is a manager at a worldwide bank. He just has a BS in Geology.

...WTF?!?!? Yeah, thats my reaction. I could have got the job I have right now, with a BS of Poly Sci, had a MUCH easiler time at college and maybe even enjoyed my tim their, and still be making the same amount of money. I got hired here b/c of my past tinkering with computer equipment, I had previous call center experience, and I can speak to a non-technical person without talking down to them. NOT because I have a degree in Computer Engineering.

So here I am, granted, still doing much better than minimum wage, and still employed (which many of my friends who graduated with me are unfortunately not), but at a level that is half the worth of my degree.

Some people have asked why I am even thinking about this stuff. Some people have told me to STFU. Some people have made me look at their lives and realize where I am compared to them. All of these are good, very good points. I'm not poor. I'm doing well above min wage. I am supporting two people and we are not falling behind. I just feel empty. Like a major void that was supposed to be filled with the goal of graduating college has been left just that.

A void.

At my current job, the glass ceiling is far from reach and even sight. Opportunities abound here. I just wonder why I didn't do this four years ago when I was in college. They not only would have paid for my education, but technically speaking, with the work I am involved in (general computer parts and service), I'm no farther ahead now then I was then. Granted, I can code you almost anything you want now and I can design and maintain kick a$$ websites, and I can even administer complex computer networks and software, but none of that is relevant to my current job. I think thats what the void is... The lingering question if was it really worth it...??? Especially because like most things in life, if you don't use it, you will lose it. And right now, I'm losing valuable time that can be used as experience on my resume for when I want to apply with a company to become their network administrator.

Maybe I should just start my own business. Any venture capitalists out there? Seriously... Either that or the next president better fix our broken economy.