Occupy Wall St. From the perspective of a "99%" individual
Ok, I'm gonna start off with a little bit about me. I grew up extremely poor, and I still am. I'm the "99%". Growing up my mom was a waitress who raised three kids by herself. There were times the lights got shut off for days, we didn't eat, or we had nowhere to live.... I owe every single accomplishment I have to these circumstances. It's made me determined, and tough as nails. I'm starting my degree in accounting at Indiana University East, with the aspiration of one day getting an MBA or MBA/JD. I look at those kids (I'm 19 by the way) who have the luxury to sit on their asses, and shuck all responsibility, and I can't relate to them in any way. I have a son who depends on my success to thrive, and I hope to be able to take care of my mom, because she worked 12 hrs a day 7 days a week for me to have this opportunity. I wish I had the time to do nothing, but that's not true nobody who really struggles can just toss real life away to fight "corporate greed". Right now we're poor, but we're surviving wtih no debt at all (I go to school for free) and we have a little surplus cash. All I wanna do is get my education, save up a large amount of money working in finance, set my sons education up, and then by a house in a slow country like Costa Rica to actually retire without government help. I refuse to work into my eighties at a factory like both of my grandfathers, but I also refuse to beg and throw tantrums about my situation. Nobody will respect me until I can command it, and only hard work and respect for others garners respect... Sorry for the life story. I just feel my generation gets a bad rap for being spoiled, but those of us at the bottom of the ninety nine percent will still bust our asses for the american dream.
So you dont relate to people who do what you would do if you were in their situation?
Why should I feel guilty my parents brought themselves out of the gutter? Should I reject what they give me? I'm sure I'd be classified as ungrateful then. You don't know what life is like for the 1%, but some of the 1% know what life is like for the 99%, because they came from it (more than you'd like to think). It's really rare to find an ex 1%ER in the 99%.
I'm glad you've taken the dig my own way out approach. It's sorely missing from today's world. Having a kid so young is hard. Best of luck. Lead by example.
Best of luck with it all.
I forsee a flame thread incoming....
Firstly if you want to make a financial success of yourself why have you got a child at 19? That is just irresponsible.
You say you respect your mother because she worked 12 hours a day 7 days a week to provide for you. Thats an incredibly admirable achievement from her she deserves your respect however, if you take 'hours worked' to be worthy of respect why do you have none for the IBD analysts who work 16 hours a day 7 days a week? Just because they had a luckier draw in the pool of life?
Hey guys above...I think you misunderstood his point (or else I'm missing it). I think he's saying that he can't afford the luxury of protesting corporate greed like the hippies in OWS. [/quote]I look at those kids (I'm 19 by the way) who have the luxury to sit on their asses, and shuck all responsibility, and I can't relate to them in any way... nobody who really struggles can just toss real life away to fight "corporate greed"...only hard work and respect for others garners respect.[/quote]
lol
Our generation is spoiled as shit, I don't care what "%" of the population you're in. Also, don't talk about responsibility and then say, "I'm 19 and have a kid." That's the definition of irresponsible.
I'm not sure what the point of this was. You came in and said you're going to start off by telling us about your personal life then all you do is tell us about your personal life in one long paragraph. It's great that you're trying to get your life together, but maybe something with a little more direction will be more well-received.
He doesn't have any less direction than I had when I was 19. Nor you , I'd wager. He wants to support his son/daughter , when he should be enjoying his youth. I'd call it admirable. Sure , there's a bit of bitterness , unnecessary defiance and what seems like a rebellious streak. But , I'd say given the tough circumstances of his situation , that's his only armour. Let's at least applaud him for stepping up to take care of his kid instead of dumping it on the state.
I agree about taking care of his kid. Also, I meant direction in this write-up, not his life.
I just cannot take the whole personality response seriously when you are 19 and you have a fucking kid. That is easily the absolute worst decision you could make at age 19 besides becoming a meth addict or felon.
How exactly do you plan to start a very expensive and time-intensive career in finance with a kid to take care of?
OP - you're facing an uphill battle. My personal recommendation is to get an accounting+finance degree, try for finance, and go with accounting failing that. I and other guys worker FOR FREE for extended periods of time while going to school and working other jobs: unless you have really strong family support, just breaking in is tough, let alone pulling the hours. Also, shoot for research, risk, compliance, trading...non banking jobs where it's possible to have some free time to take care of your kid.
Either way, position yourself to have at least A JOB and you can always go to MBA later in down the line. The odds are against you, and you have to be smart. Also don't buy the bull that your 20s are the end all be all: most people I know HATED their 20s, all they did was work. Be honest with yourself, educate yourself and learn as much as you can off of this site.
Pm me if you like, I like success stories and especially turnarounds. Live your life right, you only go through it once.
Getting a girl pregnant is irresponsible, but it's not irresponsible for the guy to man up and take care of his responsibilities. The utterly moronic responses on here calling the OP irresponsible is breathtaking--and wrong.
You guys also must have gotten a 400 on the SAT verbal because your reading comprehension is horrific. The guy is saying that the OWS protesters are likely relatively well off (rich), lazy people because poor people can't afford to spend 3 weeks living in a tent on 5th Avenue. He's saying he's going to pull himself up by the bootstraps rather than complain.
Stop reproducing until you are ready to support a child, you idiot.
Haha yeah it was kinda irresponsible, but I wouldn't change it. It's actually what spurred me to quit being an asshat. I can't ask you guys to respect me as a person, because you don't know me. Same as I can't get mad for you guys calling me an idiot and such, because I'd probably say the same. The point is that I think the occupy wall St. people have it too easy to be able to dick around the way they do. Yes I have an extreme amount of family support, and without them me going to college would be impossible. Yeah I realize individuals in finance work work that much, and that's where the respect comes from. I respect anyone who busts their ass for what they want regardless of occupation. To everyone who was supportive thanks. I currently have a 4.0 and am applying for a part time job in a bank in my hometown for some experience. Just takin it day by day.
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