The last 4 or 5 years have been the hardest of my life. After suffering chronic degeneration in my ac joint in the shoulder dictated that I quit the landscaping/masonry trades, I enrolled in college at the age of 33 to major in education. The jump from working and getting paid to becoming a broke non-traditional student was very tough; I went from being healthy and working outside, simultaneously making pretty good money, to being cooped up inside and not earning a dime. During college, I was also primary caregiver for my young son, as I was still married at the time and my ex-wife continued to work and support us during that period. However, last year we divorced due to major compatibility issues and now we share custody of our five year-old boy. I managed to recently graduate in December, but have yet to find a job. The bills are piling up, and I'm scared. I'm already in tons of debt. Depression, fear, and uncertainty pervade. I'm working with a job placement provider and try to remain optimistic, but the reality is, I'm pretty much a mess and have never felt so low, on so many levels. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to earn a degree, but the 50k of student loans and thousands in credit card debt are looming. I just want to provide for my son and myself, but soon, if I don't get a job, I don't know what's going to happen.
