Yo Bootstrapyourself. Your post is exactly what I was looking for. I'm right there with you. I'm in a similar situation but with a B.S. in Information Systems from the University of Nevada. I don't care who rides the nut sack about 'having a college degree' and that bullshit saying 'you can make a million dollars more with a college education'. To me, it's been a joke, and it is a joke. I laughed while in class about most of the shit they were making me study. I could of learned it all online alone. I'm 40 years old. I went to school late (graduated at 37), went on to get a Masters in Educational Technology from Boise State University (2 classes shy). I had one other buddy in class older than me, the rest of the crew were all in their early 20's. Now, most of them have decent jobs with Microsoft, CapGemini Gov't Solutions, Intuit, and a few other smaller firms that are fairly decent. I got on with a vendor for Microsoft making $16.83 an hour and working with a bunch of dickheads that had no college education (not saying that 'not' having a college degree is bad, or I'm better because I have one, just kinda felt like 'why the fuck did I spend so much time in school to get this?'). I felt like shit because all of the cats I graduated with are making $85k a year and some $100k. I couldn't get in. They couldn't get me in. I was making less with almost a Masters degree than I was with no degrees before I started University. Pathetic!
I'm an ex-felon. I did state time in California 15 years ago and it was for a non-violent crime. Haven't ever been in trouble with the law since, not even a parking ticket. I got all my education hoping that it would help overcome my past. It didn't. It doesn't. No one cares and it's obvious no matter how much I try, I still have to wear the 'scarlet letter' the rest of my life in the country. I'm not sobbing and not complaining, I stating how it really is.
I'm an aspiring Web Developer. I did a Ruby on Rails bootcamp. I've built about 10 apps so far and have about 7 years scattered programming experience (took a class, never used it again. took another class, never used it again, etc). I'm getting a lot better, but still don't have the qualifications that ridiculous job postings ask for. I recently met a truck driver at a Jiffy Lube while we were both waiting for oil changes. We got to talkin', he was a really cool dude. He advised me to look into getting my CDL and start trucking. He said basically I could easily make $800-$1000+ a week starting out and that he new a few instructors that he would introduce me to to get a cheaper deal on driving time instead of spending the full $2500 for the truck driving school. I thought he was bullshittin' since there are so many of the fuckers out there. Well, we exchanged numbers, I gave him a call, we linked up for some beers and he told me all about the industry.
I am seriously about to pursue getting my CDL and start driving. The only way I'll ever find out is if I try it out. Maybe I'll love it, maybe I'll hate it. And of course, with degrees, like I've read in other posts......it just might lead to something else. You never know man!
I'll die trying and I'm not afraid to bust my ass working! Keep your head up and keep pushin'. You'll end up where you wanna be soon enough!