I graduated cum laude from a non-profit University, majoring in accounting, which I thought was a “secure” field. I subsequently got my CPA on my first attempt (10% pass ratio for first-time takers for all 5 parts). I hated accounting, so I went to law school, thinking that a J.D./CPA would never be out of work. Now after 17 years of practice, and numerous skills gained, I have been laid off along with 11 other attorneys at the firm. I still have $100k in debt.

Last year’s graduating law school class had a 13.5% employment rate at law firms–why hire a new graduate when you are already laying off experienced lawyers? These kids come out of school with $100K-$150K of debt, and are asking you “do you want fries with that?”

They will NEVER pay off their student loans, and they are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy.

What did they do to deserve this death of their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations? They listened to a prior generation, who thought everyone who does things right, getting an education and succeeding in school will lead to advancement. They are the discarded generation–the most ambitious and smartest of the bunch, only to find that a lot of other people bought into the propaganda, and the Chinese and Indians will work more cheaply than Americans (not that we won’t take competitive wages, but the cost of living here on $50/day is prohibitive).

So you are right in one respect. I should have become a plumber. And if in America our brightest and best decide that they are best off becoming a plumber/electrician or working in non-mentally challenging jobs, where does this lead America, and worse, where does this lead to current blue-collar workers when their jobs are challenged by the best and brightest? If people pursuing education abandon their dreams and education, due to the glut of graduates and the shrinking job market, where will any growth come from? And what will happen to the traditional blue-collar worker who could otherwise make a decent living, but is undercut by people with a better education?