I am 23 years old, have some college experience. I first started school in 2005 going to Columbia College. I attended school there for a semester, then had to take a break and focus on work in order to save money to afford to live and go to school. It was my goal to make it through college without having to get student loans and built up a lot of debt that I would have to pay back after school.
Unfortunately, things don't ever really work out the way you plan. After quitting Columbia College, I ended up getting a job as the assistant manager at an apartment complex in the town that I was living in at the time, and got myself a little too wrapped up in work. Even though this job was one of my favorites because of all of the people that I worked with on a day to day basis, it wasn't the healthiest. We were working hours around the clock cause there was too much fun stuff going on during working hours, and I didn't end up saving for school at all. After a few months, I left there and for the next couple years, I just kinda did nothing. I worked temporary jobs to make money to live off of and looking for a job in the field that I really wanted to work in.
In 2008, I got a job for a mortgage company doing help desk stuff. I fixed any equipment in the office that I was able to; phones, computers, printers, scanners, servers, etc. If there was anything that I couldn't take care of, I was the one to call service and get things taken care of. Eventually, scripting, web development, and programming were added to my duties. I was the systems administer, maintaining all of the technology for the company, managing the users, and doing what I could to improve the systems in place. Everything was great there, until the person I was working under left the company, he was replaced by someone that didn't have the best management skills. I was really unhappy working under this person, but I liked what I did and was making decent money (compared to McDonald's). I tried to endure it, but after three months or so of the combination of issues I was having there, I resigned.
While working for the mortgage company, I enrolled at Full Sail University and started classes. I made it there a little under a year, but had to quit when I wasn't able to come up with money for financial aid to pay for another term.
So after I used all of the money that I had saved, I ended up having to move out of my apartment and back into my mother's house. Not something that I am crazy about, but I like being close to family and certain things about being out in the country. The major problem I see is that I feel that being here is making me lax on accomplishing goals. I am trying to get myself back into school. I was actually going to start in May. I just didn't have enough time to come up with the tuition money. But, I have been saving for the summer session since then, and I am going to make sure that I make it in this time. I know that I am not going anywhere without getting at least a Bachelor's, and I am already too late in my life to let this wait any longer.
Right now, I am working at McDonald's which has both advantages and drawbacks. I miss working Monday through Friday (even though, working at the mortgage company, I spent many weekends at work). I also am getting paid quite a bit less than what I was making before. That is one of the major things that is scaring me away from moving out. Even though, I feel like that will be coming soon anyway.
Lately, I have been creating projects for myself to work on. I am currently working on a website to track and manage a trip that I am planning with some family and friends. The page is giving me a little exercise in my web development, I'll have something to add to my pretty small portfolio, and there are several reusable scripts for future sites.
So there is a pretty complete summery of the past few years leading up to where I am now. Now, I just have to work on improving my life. Right now, there are a lot of ideas floating around in my head about my future. I have pushed myself recently to start doing some more productive things; reading, writing, development. I am cutting back on time spent doing things that are just wasting my time. I will be trying to post here at least once a week, but I am trying to shoot for posting on more of a daily basis, I just don't really know if I will have enough to write about. I guess we will see.
Thanks for reading!
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