Dear under-paid and under-appreciated college student,
It's going to be okay.
I'm sure this statement has lost it's meaning over the years. Everyone filling your heads with false promises and small hope to grab onto.
When you feel like you're at the end of your rope, and can't handle it anymore, remember that there are so many like you; hard working, determined and unwavering.
I know there are all those people laughing at you, because you're over-educated and still working at that one dead-end job just to finish up your degree and still make it by in life. Sometimes, you even get stuck at your high school job, because it's comfortable and the only option you have.
I know it sucks that every morning you drag yourself out of bed to go sit in a crowded classroom and struggle to stay awake, while a boring professor drawls on about a subject you have little to no interest in.
Every moment is one more step toward a brighter future. Your dreams are right around the corner.
There's the early mornings, the late nights, the impossible exams and the stress brought on constantly by family and friends. All, who want you to do fantastic, but little who understand the time and effort that goes into self-growth.
The tables you've had to wait on, with that one screeching three-year-old and the oblivious parents.
The unruly customers that demanded you exchange this article of clothing for that article of clothing.
The thousands of dishes that you've had to wash by hand. The loss of feeling in the tips of your fingers from taking hot plates out of scalding dishwashers in a hurry.
The animals you groom.
The judgmental co-workers.
Those who look down on you or patronize you for taking the time and effort to invest in yourself.
The countless times you were yelled at for doing something incorrectly, but you held your tongue, because you still needed that one last check.
Whether you work the early morning rush, or close and have to clean up after the day, just remember that it will all be worth it.
The importance of this time in life is often forgotten. We grow weary of the looming years of education we still have ahead, but against all odds, we keep going.
As Millennials, we are one of the first generations to experience this time of life. This imbalance between being an adult and being a child. The quarter-life crisis is real.
Always remember that the Bureau of Labor statistics writes,"while millennials have acquired more student loan debt than previous generations, they also are better educated."
We are a force to be reckoned with and do not let anyone defer you from that great destiny.
