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I'm sorry that has been your son's experience. My son has been working at an incredibly meaningful job -- he works with a nonprofit organization, which included a leave of absence last fall to do paid campaign work right before the election. His leftish politics led him in that direction -- though the main point is that he was working for an organization whose cause he believed in. </p>
<p>I will say that the job started with my son taking the basic, unglamorous, lowest paid, entry level position his organization had to offer. He received his first promotion before the end of the 2nd week. </p>
<p>Meaningful and fulfilling jobs are out there, without a college degree - you just have to get a handle on what you want to do. I do have degrees, but my current job doesn't require one, and involves a good deal of technical computer skills that are self-taught. I work with a mix of people some who are very highly educated, up to Ph.D. level, and some who lack college degrees -- all working in very similar positions and capacities. </p>
<p>To me, the hardest thing to get over was being trapped by my degree. For 20 years I thought that because I had a J.D., I had to be a lawyer. Well, that was fine as long as I was enjoying what I was doing. But eventually I got really sick of it. </p>
<p>Fortunately, a career counselor who specializes in working with disillusioned lawyers straightened me out -- how liberating to know that can earn a living and have a fulfilling career, and I do NOT have to practice law, at all. Not ever again. </p>
<p>The thing about life is that we only get to live it once. So we might as well explore and take a few chances. </p>
<p>I do hope that your son finds his niche, as mine did. A college degree does make things a lot easier -- but work experience also counts for a lot.</p>