Poor Man In College

What do you do?

I'm in College. I've flown the coop. And now, I've blown my savings and checking account on who knows what. Well, that's where I am.

For the first four months of college I was sailing high. I'm a lucky guy. My parents have paid my way-knowledge, food, and shelter-all included. Some people might say that I'm spoiled. Maybe they're right?

I started the school year with around $2,000 dollars in my savings and checking accounts, plenty to get me through (AT LEAST) the entire year.

Half way through Fall semester I saw both my accounts hit $500. I needed a job. A quick search through the University Job Search site and I had found just the thing: $8.75 an hour. Doing the math.....20 hours a week....multiplied by 8.75 per hour....that's what..?..$175 a week.

So for the last half of Fall 2009 I spent my mornings from 4 - 8 am scrubbing toilets, vacuuming hallways, and dusting door frames in the student athletic building.

I had once told my father that nothing in the world would ever make me clean toilets for a living. Now, though I wasn't exactly in survival mode, I learned an important lesson about making money: do anything to make it happen.

My dad also told me that no job is more important than any other. He always shows respect for everyone, no matter the situation.

"Always show them respect Sean. Every job is important; it all has to be done."

After my 4 - 8 shift I'd slump over in bed and sleep through my first class, then quickly hurry to the shower and rush to Sociology. Usually by 1 pm I could accumulate enough non-consecutive sleep hours to get me through the day.

By the end of the semester I was completely burnt out. My GPA dropped from a potential 4.0 to a 3.6 and I didn't even care. All I wanted to do was sleep.

What was the worst part of all? I was still somehow LOSING money. My bank account was waning.

Christmas break was sweet relief.

Then school started again.

Then $400 dollars later, I was broke.

And that's when I realized: "hey, I have a mild spending problem."

I spent myself into a giant hole. I now have $20 to my name.

I'm starting from the ground up here at college, and it's rough. I'm glad that I'm doing it now though, still under my parents wing.

It's time to turn this thing around. I'm walking out of the dark. Walk with me.