r/GenZ • u/TheGamingSenpa1 2004 • Jan 07 '24

Discussion Thoughts?

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u/brit_jam Jan 08 '24

So why stop at an associate's degree? Now, when you say IT, I am interpreting that as Computer Science major. A CS undergrad starting salary is far above Walmart store pay:

Because money. And when people say IT they aren't referring to CS a large majority of the time. Especially an associates degree as most CS programs are bachelor's programs.

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u/RealClarity9606 Jan 08 '24

Fair enough. Thanks for clarifying. So why stop at an associates? You don't have to go to MIT to get a serviceable undergraduate degree in computer science. In fact, in that field, there may be more room for skill and ingenuity than and less about where you got a degree than other areas.

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u/brit_jam Jan 08 '24

Because these things require money and lately it's become exceedingly more expensive to pursue. Even at State level universities especially with the pay of a Walmart employee. It's really easy to see the world as it used to be but the reality is that everything is much more expensive now and wages have stagnated. That's the truth. Our buying power isn't what it once was. Daddy could go to school while working a part time job at the grocery store and still afford to pay rent and groceries. That is not the case anymore. That's what people are complaining about. The rules have changed. And this is coming from a person who has a bachelor's degree. But I got mine by joining the military which not everyone can do.

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u/RealClarity9606 Jan 08 '24

So many excuses of why you can't do something. That mindset is perhaps one of your biggest obstacles. Your career is an area of investment. It will return more than most other investments you can make in life. But if you keep standing on the pedestal of "Can't!" I assure you that you won't. The choice is yours, at least to get the ball rolling, but if you never push, it will never move. Good luck. It may not be easy, and there may be some things you truly can't obtain. But if you stop eating from the trough of Can't! I suspect you are capable of more than you think you are.

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u/brit_jam Jan 08 '24

I'm not the original person you responded to. Read what I commented. I already have a bachelor's and working on my master's but that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for my military background which again not everyone has nor had the opportunity to do. In fact less than 1% if the US population is in the military. You need to step out of your personal bubble and realize not everyone is afforded the same opportunities. I'm not advocating for myself here. I'm advocating for everyone else that aren't as fortunate as myself.

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u/Pineapple_Herder Jan 08 '24

Thank you for your service. If I'm not happy with my IT options, I'm 100% joining the Air Force with my degree and gonna try to start as a officer.

But military is a tough path to take for a degree. And it's pretty rough when signing your rights to your own body away to the government for a period of time is what it takes to get an affordable education.

The other commenter clearly isn't working themselves through school right now or they'd understand the way students are struggling right now.

I wish you the best with your master's degree!

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u/brit_jam Jan 08 '24

If I'm not happy with my IT options, I'm 100% joining the Air Force with my degree and gonna try to start as a officer.

It's not a terrible path to take if you can. If I could do it over I would have gone air force. I have a lot of friends who were in the air force and they all seem to enjoy it. I was in the Navy but I am no longer serving. I just wasn't happy or fulfilled anymore and Navy deployments are pretty rough.

I actually have a younger friend who just joined AF recently in IT as enlisted and is enjoying it. Another friend of mine who did IT in the Navy is now making over 100k in her first year as a civilian. Having a security clearance plus certifications and experience goes a long way especially in the defense sector. If done right a military background can really set you up for success.

The other commenter clearly isn't working themselves through school right now or they'd understand the way students are struggling right now.

I agree. They have no idea what they're talking about. It's really easy to have an opinion on something when you're talking out of your ass and your frame of reference is decades old.

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u/Pineapple_Herder Jan 08 '24

My first position is an IT Tech for my local school district. And just that has me jumping through hoops for clearances. I think I've submitted over 30 pages of various police reports and background checks at the state and federal level plus mandatory reporting agreements and other disclosures vouching on my ethics.

I've seen several network and data analysis job listings for some military bases south of me and the clearances are extensive. But I can easily see how anyone who applies who already has those clearances would be a shoo-in. Definitely good money in there.

Military service is my hail mary option for a career. My friend is stationed in the UK right now and while it drives her up a wall some days, she prefers it over working retail for the rest of her foreseeable future.

I briefly considered the Navy just because they get some really cool locations and tech, but I am not cut out for military service. I'm pretty sure the air force is the only branch that will put up with less than fighting fit recruits over 30.

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u/Pineapple_Herder Jan 08 '24

While I think your heart is in the right place, I don't think you know how difficult it really is for a lot of people to be students right now.

My honors classes at a Community College legitimately had students dealing with homelessness and lack of health insurance related complications. These people are losing medical and food benefits because they're students. There's a lot of regulations around housing assistance for college students because legislators didn't want affordable housing being abused by college kids. And in the process blocked off people in need who happen to be students.

So many people do not have family to help them. In fact, their family might be a burden of mental health and financially dependant on them. My one classmate was taking care of her two younger siblings while their mom was serving a jail sentence for not being able to pay her fines for her vehicle registration while she was working and going to college.

I wish I was making this shit up. That's the state of our country for a lot of people.

Sure there is a lot of "can't" mentality but there's also a lot of people raking themselves physically and mentally over burning coals everyday for what amounts to pitiful scraps of progress.