The dust? Sure, decent song. As I go about getting ready for work, I've been wondering - Am I ahead of the game, or way behind? At 19, most people my age are in college already, starting their first or second semester, and usually without a job, letting mommy and daddy pay for everything. That's what's happened with every person in my graduating class. I, on the other hand, took a couple years off to mature, and got a job. I'm not saying its the better choice, but I think it was for me - I probably would have dropped out of college had I gone in right off. Now, though, I've got a car, a small nest-egg, and time on my side. The folks in college? Had better hope they can keep all their scholarships, and start trying to pay off their loans soon - right now, many of them are already $10,000 or better in debt. Granted, college is one of those 'good' debts that help you make money, but that's a daunting figure for one or two /years/ of education. More than that? Upwards of $50-75,000. That's just an estimate, but, again, daunting. At my wage, that's just over seven years to pay back, if every cent I have is put towards it, and I defer it each year. And, with the economy as it is, even a job like mine is starting to be hard-to-find, much less one that's better paying. Hell, I work with a fellow that's got his BA in the fine arts, who's making all of a dollar more. He's 29, and he's one of four guys on the crew, out of some twenty five, that's under thirty.

And you know what? He's still got four years to go to pay off his college loans. I think I'll hold off a bit on college until I've got enough money that I'm not trying to live beyond my means. Later, folks. <3