I am a graduate student in a math department; I earn $16500 a year, which is less than a janitor; coz the net says that janitors in baltimore-washington area make about $25000 a year. Now here is my question: My own worth cannot be decided by me, right? It must bear the stamp of some authority; ALL authorities, i.e. all univerisities, right from Harvard to Oklahoma State U agree that it is okay to pay me less than a janitor. Does that mean that I am really worth less than a janitor? So, with two college degrees am I a complete failure? The other possibility is that there is some nationwide conspiracy to exploit me(which is clearly being paranoid); in case I go with the exploitation idea, dont you think univeristies would rather choose poorly educated people to exploit rather than me? as such, have i landed myself in complete failure: I am very depressed: please help.
2006-11-29 14:09:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
all graduate students are underpaid and exploited. youre not alone! grad students are cheap labor, and schools take advantage of that. if your school has some kind of counseling program, i would make an appointment and talk to them, if only to vent. they may be able to help you cope with what youre feeling. you are not a failure, youre an academic! and one day it will pay off!
2006-11-29 14:13:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
your post shows a lot of arrogance in it.. you make less than a janitor, so you're a complete failure? you talk about janitors like they are worthless.. whats wrong with being a janitor? I've known some good people who are janitors.. in my opinion, the value of a person is not defined by how much money they make, but rather their integrity.. the attitude of your post shows that you think you are better than janitors, which calls your integrity into question.. so in that sense, janitors are better than you..
besides, since you're still a student, you shouldn't be complaining.. many people today feel they are entitled to earn high wages just because they have a degree.. you have to prove you deserve the high wages..
2006-11-29 22:18:23 · answer #2 · answered by Byakuya 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Salary is not only about how much worth a job has. They're not saying that a janitor's work is better than yours. But not many people are willing to be janitors, and they are needed. That's why they get paid more, its incentive. Would you really clean up after other people for hardly enough money to live on?
2006-11-29 22:13:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jordan D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are a student, not a worker. when you go to undergrad, you have to usually pay to be a student. Many people pay their way through graduate school too. So, if you add the cost of tuition to your current "salary", you are better off than a janitor. But that is not the point -- you are getting paid to acquire skills that will eventually get you a much better position. You got to love maths, though, regardless.
2006-11-29 22:14:16 · answer #4 · answered by homeloantaxes 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not a failure. You are working and are a grad student. Take one day at a time. Are you earning enough to meet your basic needs? If so, you are a success!!!! You don't have to have the best of everything now (or ever). Have faith and trust that you will learn something from this state that you are in.
2006-11-29 22:24:22 · answer #5 · answered by busymomof3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you said you're a grad student, but you didn't explain what your job actually is.
I might note this though. Janitors are unionized. Your job is probably not unionized. Think about it.
2006-11-29 22:14:07 · answer #6 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're a graduate student in a math department yet you can't figure this out? No wonder you're depressed.
2006-11-29 22:13:39 · answer #7 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I hope you don't judge your worth by material things.
2006-11-29 22:19:01 · answer #8 · answered by Moxie Crimefighter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋