She Strengthens

The Illusion of Success: When a Prestigious Degree Fails to Deliver

Growing up in a small town in the Northeast, I was always expected to attend the best college possible. In fact, it was a given. My parents proudly displayed a bumper sticker on their car showcasing my esteemed university’s crest, and they helped me cover the costs, leaving me with a substantial loan burden. I never questioned my decision to pursue a degree from a private university in Boston, even though I could have attended a state school with a near-full scholarship.

In hindsight, I realize that my choices were driven by a desire to fit in and meet others’ expectations, rather than my own passions and interests. I majored in history, a subject I loved, but without a clear career path in mind. My friends and I assumed that our degrees would automatically lead to good jobs and a comfortable lifestyle.

After graduating in 2012, I began to realize that my decisions might not have been as smart as I thought. My friends who had majored in more practical fields like accounting, finance, and engineering were having an easier time finding employment. I, on the other hand, was struggling to find a job that matched my skills and interests.

Fast forward to the present, and I’m still struggling to find a foothold in the job market. I’ve worked a string of unfulfilling jobs, from administrative positions to sales and nannying. Despite a few promising leads, nothing has panned out. My degree, once seen as a ticket to success, now feels like a burden.

I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve accomplished so little with my education. My friends from back home have all found “real” jobs, and I’m the only one still struggling. It’s hard to talk about my situation without feeling like a failure. Even though I’ve managed to find ways to make ends meet, I know that I’m not living up to my potential.

I’ve learned to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is okay. I downplay my job struggles and focus on the positives. But deep down, I’m worried that I’ll never find a stable, fulfilling career. My parents keep suggesting that I should pursue further education, like law school, but I’m not convinced that’s the solution.

For now, I’m stuck in limbo, feeling like an imposter among my peers. I’m desperate to find a way out of this cycle of unfulfilling jobs and uncertainty. Until then, I’ll continue to fake it until I make it, hoping that someday, I’ll find my true calling.