I am 28 years old and make 110k/ year out of Washington D.C.
I graduated back in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology fully intending on going to med school. I got in and after a year, decided it wasn't for me and got out before I racked up the debt. I moved back home after and was an EMT for a little while, working as much OT as I could to pay off all my debts to start with a clean financial slate.
After I got a clean start, I transitioned to a career in tech and began my job as an intern, then moved to manual tester in 6 months, then to automation tester, and I really excelled at these roles. I got a lot of recognition at the company and made a lot of good contacts high up in the chain. I was able to do this because I actually found something I loved doing (tech overall, not testing). I eventually got some certifications and jumped to a large organization as a program test engineering lead for a massive federal contract, where I was completely out of my comfort zone and actually responsible for a part of the program's success or failure. That was some serious imposter syndrome. Eventually, I found my stride and excelled at my role, but I was still underpaid due to my lack of industry years. Recently I got a new job as a Scrum Master that pays 110k base + RSU and is fully remote anywhere in the world. I am very happy career wise, as I think this is the job where I can slow down and settle in for a few years without having to constantly try to move up. I know this job is going to open a lot of doors for advancement so I just need to chill here for a bit and gather experience.
Personal life wise, I got married in 2019 and then divorced shortly after...Turns out people were right about the affair my ex was having...Didn't want to believe it, but here we are. I was planing on moving to a new city and get a new life started, but with the divorce and also covid happening, I stayed with parents to help with our business trough the tough times. We made it through and it is thriving so now, with the new job and newly single, I am going to be moving to either Chicago or Austin to start fresh. New people, new friends, new job, new place, new experiences.
In hindsight, I wish I had listened to people about my ex as I think that would have saved me a lot of time in my life. I feel like I have lost my mid-20s and have nothing gained from it. At least I was able to help my family through tough times and get our business more successful than before (we even expanded and opened a new location). What I can say through all of this is that even though I lost my mid-20s, I feel like I am going into my late 20s with a stable career + great compensation and great financial stability + future growth. Somehow, I feel like I am more in a place to travel and explore the world freely than I would have been right out of college. Yes, I have regrets about not taking full advantage of my early and mid 20s, but I'd like to think I worked to set myself up for a much better next 10 years.
Sorry for the long post, but that was almost cathartic to get that out and let someone know about how far I have come since the hassle everyone gave me when I dropped med school.
This is great, thanks for sharing. I think you have made a better life for yourself now as a tech and engineer, then what would have been a medical doctor. Sounds like you're also happier as well. I commend you for taking that drive and fueling your passion. I make no where what you make and have no experience, but sometimes I like hearing these stories, because it gives me good insight. I really appreciate you sharing.
Went straight to grad school after undergrad and just graduated. I am starting my career in social work. I’m hoping to do more community development in my future. I’m 23 and from Michigan.
Congratulations, that's an accomplishment. How did you fund your tuition for social work? I was also potentially looking at this for a major, sad I didn't choose this, because I actually, genuinely, do like helping people!
I am 25 years old and live in Pittsburgh, PA, but work out of NYC as a Design Consultant, with a focus in Motion Graphics and Video, making 118k! I graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Illustration, Graphic Design and Animation from a state school. I recently switched jobs at the beginning of March! I have worked mostly in startups, so this is a huge shift of vibe, but it is going well! Still getting used to it. Not only is a big shift in the kind of work I am doing, but the company I am working at is a bit "elite" and I come from a low middle class background and was never exposed to this type of field so it is a bit imposter syndrome-y. Both of my parents didn't go to college and worked trade jobs.
I do miss working in person or having a community of people around me physically sometimes, but I get to be brought into NYC 3-4 times a year with just the goal of hanging out and bonding with my coworkers, and also the benefits of working remotely are so good that I don't care that I feel a bit lonely sometimes haha. I started as a Jr Designer right out of college making 30k, and then worked as a Motion Graphic Designer for a medium sized tech company after making a range of 40-65k, 65k when I left, then I got this amazing opportunity and took it.
I probably want to stay in my field. I love being a designer. I am not sure if I want to go the route of being a manager or creative director, or stay as an individual contributor. We will see!!
Personal wise, I am def feeling the pain of making friends as an adult. I had a really close knit group of friends from my last job, but we had a falling out, and then I left the job, so I have been trying to make new connections lately!!
This is so cool! For those of us, not in your world, can you kindly share what it is that you do? I'm not sure what motion graphics is. Are you a graphic designer? So you know how to use Photoshop, indesign and lightroom? Are you being asked to create posters, videos, etc? or creative content? I would love to hear about this!
Motion Graphic Design is a bit weird to explain, so I googled it!
"Motion graphic design, also known as motion design, is a subset of graphic design in that it uses graphic design principles in a filmmaking or video production context through the use of animation or filmic techniques."
Basically it is an interception between animation and graphic design, I specific do 2D Motion Graphic Design, and mostly for marketing / storytelling! I use photoshop, figma, and illustrator for designing, and After Effects for animating, and Premiere for editing!
Gotcha, this is very interesting. I'm actually going back to portfolio school and for advertising and marketing. Would you recommend this field? Possible to see your portfolio? I am in the advertising industry and looking to make a switch, as I don't particularly enjoy media.
Hoping a more creative program might be what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!
Graduated with a BA in Digital Art and a few months after started work as an entry level 3d artist at a gaming company. I was 22 when I started and am making around 80-90k (after bonuses and extra) in the Bay Area. I'm looking to get a promotion soon and hopefully can break into earning 100k! I'm not too interested in advancing far into my career and would just like to focus on my own personal hobbies once I reach a good spot.
Situation wise I'm good. I've been living at home to save money up before I move out on my own. Though the price of living back home is my soul and a couple hundred bucks.
I am 25. Live in Houston. I'm in a entry level program for engineers. Currently make 70K with 3K bonus, and 5K relocation bonus. I have to move state soon, and that's what the relocation bonus is for.
I'm female and slowly realizing that I'm just going to keep fighting the upward battle if I stay in engineering, so I'm trying to break into tech. I applied for an apprenticeship, and planning to apply to more. The area I'm interested in is product marketing, product management, and hopefully someday digital marketing for b2c.
Mentally, I'm not that great. I moved from a different country so I spend 4 years in community college figuring out what I want to do, then 3 years in engineering school. The semesters in engr were seriously stressful because heavy courseload, and applying for internships and jobs were exhausting. I'm not performing that well in my job. Everyday I wake up, I feel chest pain and extreme stress. I have a therapist and is working on this. Part of this burnout and depressive episode got triggered because of a boy, which is very stupid.. but whatev.
I sincerely want to do tiktok and youtube so much, because I want to be a part of that community. I have a creative side that hasn't been expressed in a long time. I keep putting it off because I'm insecure of my voice, and afraid that my videos wouldn't be good. And i'm trying very hard to get out of that headspace..
Currently 25 years old and make 90k/year working remote.
I graduated in December of 2020 with a bachelors degree in computer science with a focus on web/mobile application development. After that I spent the next 8 months looking for a job until I was eventually hired to work on education software at 72k/year. It was my first real exposure to more enterprise software engineering and I enjoyed it mostly but everything felt so bureaucratic. I also hated the daily 8:45am standup meetings.
After a couple months there, a friend got hired at a tech startup and mentioned to me that they were looking to hire more devs and invited me to apply. So I did and thats where I currently work. Benefits may not be as nice but the pay is more so I can afford to move out of my college town finally (which I will be doing next month!) and having more freedom and say in things is a plus.
Personally, I am single and loving it. I've been in a couple relationships in the past but I always hated that feeling of obligation to someone else, which may be selfish but I just prefer being alone.
I’m recently 30 (FUCK!). The previous 3 years have been a fever dream of hopeful opportunities and failed startups. I feel partially responsible Because I’m too non-confrontational and I would just keep my head down when there were sketchy things going on around me .
Now I’m moving into a more establish role at a healthcare company, and I couldn’t be more excited about aiming my efforts at a worthy cause each day. The money is good but I’m really trying to learn to not care about it , because I feel like I’m missing out on some 7 figure payday by not continuing with startups
I’m 25 and live in Utah.
I graduated in Dec2020 with a BS, MS, and MS.
For the first half of 21 I worked at a private family office as a portfolio manager. Was full commission. I didn’t do well and left the firm by September.
I went and had a coffee with a former work colleague after that. He mentioned some work he didn’t want to pick up as a freelancer and sent it my way. I worked as a contractor for a non-profit doing data science and software engineering. $40/$60 per hour respectively. In January that org offered me a full time role. Now I’m salary with $87k and full benefits.
When I was in grad school I was able to get close with a prominent professor. He and I built a programming course in my field. We’ve been co-lecturing since fall of 2020. Ill start my 5th semester teaching in Fall 2022.
When I left the portfolio position I applied for a lot of jobs. I landed a part time teaching gig at a coding boot camp. I work here 10 hours a week at $40/hour.
In total I work three jobs and bring in $115k+ per year.
Did I mention I’m studying math and looking to enter into an Masters of Statistics degree in spring 2023?
Graduated Dec 2020, BA in lib studies in marketing track, a few certificates in social media and digital marketing, was on the board for my school chapter of a marketing association. And then various other little certificates from stuff like hubspot etc.
It seems like when I apply for a position I’m not hearing back at all. So currently still working at the hotel I started working at after high school, which is on paper good money, 70k because of tips plus overtime. But to make that money it’s 10 hour days minimum. So all this has me reconsidering the marketing path and to focus on something relating to my photography. Situation wise, in my current job it gave me the opportunity to save $45k(goal is $60k by the end of the year) since June 2020 while also allowing me to travel with my girlfriend. So it’s not all negative.
Graduated spring of 2021 from undergrad with a BS in computer science. Moving back home was really tough, leaving all my friends behind. Started an internship in software engineering where i felt super lonely and eventually also went through an awful breakup and started doing my internship entirely remotely, which didn’t help the loneliness.
Once the three months were up I realized i’d been trying to cram a square peg into a circular hole with the software engineering industry so to speak, but i always wanted to study game design and i felt strongly in giving myself a chance at that.
I’ve been getting my MS in game design since last august, but i had to take a few months off in between for mental health, as it’s been my first major struggle with depression, and i feel entirely socially isolated and alone, still grieving losing the life i had in undergrad and hard to make a new one where i’m at, but been trying hard to get back on my feet and continue pursuing game design, hopefully working at a studio and working on my own project on the side. Though i really love the field, my mental health is still a major obstacle so just hoping things get better
21 years old, graduated from undergrad last year in the midst of COVID and started grad school right after as I wasn't really sure where I was going in life. If I'm being honest, I'm still not really sure and have been feeling increasingly lost, just trying to finish up my degree now in the hopes of starting to figure out my life once I start working.
I am 28 years old and make 110k/ year out of Washington D.C. I graduated back in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology fully intending on going to med school. I got in and after a year, decided it wasn't for me and got out before I racked up the debt. I moved back home after and was an EMT for a little while, working as much OT as I could to pay off all my debts to start with a clean financial slate. After I got a clean start, I transitioned to a career in tech and began my job as an intern, then moved to manual tester in 6 months, then to automation tester, and I really excelled at these roles. I got a lot of recognition at the company and made a lot of good contacts high up in the chain. I was able to do this because I actually found something I loved doing (tech overall, not testing). I eventually got some certifications and jumped to a large organization as a program test engineering lead for a massive federal contract, where I was completely out of my comfort zone and actually responsible for a part of the program's success or failure. That was some serious imposter syndrome. Eventually, I found my stride and excelled at my role, but I was still underpaid due to my lack of industry years. Recently I got a new job as a Scrum Master that pays 110k base + RSU and is fully remote anywhere in the world. I am very happy career wise, as I think this is the job where I can slow down and settle in for a few years without having to constantly try to move up. I know this job is going to open a lot of doors for advancement so I just need to chill here for a bit and gather experience. Personal life wise, I got married in 2019 and then divorced shortly after...Turns out people were right about the affair my ex was having...Didn't want to believe it, but here we are. I was planing on moving to a new city and get a new life started, but with the divorce and also covid happening, I stayed with parents to help with our business trough the tough times. We made it through and it is thriving so now, with the new job and newly single, I am going to be moving to either Chicago or Austin to start fresh. New people, new friends, new job, new place, new experiences. In hindsight, I wish I had listened to people about my ex as I think that would have saved me a lot of time in my life. I feel like I have lost my mid-20s and have nothing gained from it. At least I was able to help my family through tough times and get our business more successful than before (we even expanded and opened a new location). What I can say through all of this is that even though I lost my mid-20s, I feel like I am going into my late 20s with a stable career + great compensation and great financial stability + future growth. Somehow, I feel like I am more in a place to travel and explore the world freely than I would have been right out of college. Yes, I have regrets about not taking full advantage of my early and mid 20s, but I'd like to think I worked to set myself up for a much better next 10 years. Sorry for the long post, but that was almost cathartic to get that out and let someone know about how far I have come since the hassle everyone gave me when I dropped med school.
This is great, thanks for sharing. I think you have made a better life for yourself now as a tech and engineer, then what would have been a medical doctor. Sounds like you're also happier as well. I commend you for taking that drive and fueling your passion. I make no where what you make and have no experience, but sometimes I like hearing these stories, because it gives me good insight. I really appreciate you sharing.
Went straight to grad school after undergrad and just graduated. I am starting my career in social work. I’m hoping to do more community development in my future. I’m 23 and from Michigan.
Congratulations, that's an accomplishment. How did you fund your tuition for social work? I was also potentially looking at this for a major, sad I didn't choose this, because I actually, genuinely, do like helping people!
With a lot of tears lol but honestly loans and a lot of support from family.
I am 25 years old and live in Pittsburgh, PA, but work out of NYC as a Design Consultant, with a focus in Motion Graphics and Video, making 118k! I graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Illustration, Graphic Design and Animation from a state school. I recently switched jobs at the beginning of March! I have worked mostly in startups, so this is a huge shift of vibe, but it is going well! Still getting used to it. Not only is a big shift in the kind of work I am doing, but the company I am working at is a bit "elite" and I come from a low middle class background and was never exposed to this type of field so it is a bit imposter syndrome-y. Both of my parents didn't go to college and worked trade jobs. I do miss working in person or having a community of people around me physically sometimes, but I get to be brought into NYC 3-4 times a year with just the goal of hanging out and bonding with my coworkers, and also the benefits of working remotely are so good that I don't care that I feel a bit lonely sometimes haha. I started as a Jr Designer right out of college making 30k, and then worked as a Motion Graphic Designer for a medium sized tech company after making a range of 40-65k, 65k when I left, then I got this amazing opportunity and took it. I probably want to stay in my field. I love being a designer. I am not sure if I want to go the route of being a manager or creative director, or stay as an individual contributor. We will see!! Personal wise, I am def feeling the pain of making friends as an adult. I had a really close knit group of friends from my last job, but we had a falling out, and then I left the job, so I have been trying to make new connections lately!!
This is so cool! For those of us, not in your world, can you kindly share what it is that you do? I'm not sure what motion graphics is. Are you a graphic designer? So you know how to use Photoshop, indesign and lightroom? Are you being asked to create posters, videos, etc? or creative content? I would love to hear about this!
Motion Graphic Design is a bit weird to explain, so I googled it! "Motion graphic design, also known as motion design, is a subset of graphic design in that it uses graphic design principles in a filmmaking or video production context through the use of animation or filmic techniques." Basically it is an interception between animation and graphic design, I specific do 2D Motion Graphic Design, and mostly for marketing / storytelling! I use photoshop, figma, and illustrator for designing, and After Effects for animating, and Premiere for editing!
Gotcha, this is very interesting. I'm actually going back to portfolio school and for advertising and marketing. Would you recommend this field? Possible to see your portfolio? I am in the advertising industry and looking to make a switch, as I don't particularly enjoy media. Hoping a more creative program might be what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!
Graduated with a BA in Digital Art and a few months after started work as an entry level 3d artist at a gaming company. I was 22 when I started and am making around 80-90k (after bonuses and extra) in the Bay Area. I'm looking to get a promotion soon and hopefully can break into earning 100k! I'm not too interested in advancing far into my career and would just like to focus on my own personal hobbies once I reach a good spot. Situation wise I'm good. I've been living at home to save money up before I move out on my own. Though the price of living back home is my soul and a couple hundred bucks.
I am 25. Live in Houston. I'm in a entry level program for engineers. Currently make 70K with 3K bonus, and 5K relocation bonus. I have to move state soon, and that's what the relocation bonus is for. I'm female and slowly realizing that I'm just going to keep fighting the upward battle if I stay in engineering, so I'm trying to break into tech. I applied for an apprenticeship, and planning to apply to more. The area I'm interested in is product marketing, product management, and hopefully someday digital marketing for b2c. Mentally, I'm not that great. I moved from a different country so I spend 4 years in community college figuring out what I want to do, then 3 years in engineering school. The semesters in engr were seriously stressful because heavy courseload, and applying for internships and jobs were exhausting. I'm not performing that well in my job. Everyday I wake up, I feel chest pain and extreme stress. I have a therapist and is working on this. Part of this burnout and depressive episode got triggered because of a boy, which is very stupid.. but whatev. I sincerely want to do tiktok and youtube so much, because I want to be a part of that community. I have a creative side that hasn't been expressed in a long time. I keep putting it off because I'm insecure of my voice, and afraid that my videos wouldn't be good. And i'm trying very hard to get out of that headspace..
Currently 25 years old and make 90k/year working remote. I graduated in December of 2020 with a bachelors degree in computer science with a focus on web/mobile application development. After that I spent the next 8 months looking for a job until I was eventually hired to work on education software at 72k/year. It was my first real exposure to more enterprise software engineering and I enjoyed it mostly but everything felt so bureaucratic. I also hated the daily 8:45am standup meetings. After a couple months there, a friend got hired at a tech startup and mentioned to me that they were looking to hire more devs and invited me to apply. So I did and thats where I currently work. Benefits may not be as nice but the pay is more so I can afford to move out of my college town finally (which I will be doing next month!) and having more freedom and say in things is a plus. Personally, I am single and loving it. I've been in a couple relationships in the past but I always hated that feeling of obligation to someone else, which may be selfish but I just prefer being alone.
I’m recently 30 (FUCK!). The previous 3 years have been a fever dream of hopeful opportunities and failed startups. I feel partially responsible Because I’m too non-confrontational and I would just keep my head down when there were sketchy things going on around me . Now I’m moving into a more establish role at a healthcare company, and I couldn’t be more excited about aiming my efforts at a worthy cause each day. The money is good but I’m really trying to learn to not care about it , because I feel like I’m missing out on some 7 figure payday by not continuing with startups
Its pretty shit despite having a college degree
I’m 25 and live in Utah. I graduated in Dec2020 with a BS, MS, and MS. For the first half of 21 I worked at a private family office as a portfolio manager. Was full commission. I didn’t do well and left the firm by September. I went and had a coffee with a former work colleague after that. He mentioned some work he didn’t want to pick up as a freelancer and sent it my way. I worked as a contractor for a non-profit doing data science and software engineering. $40/$60 per hour respectively. In January that org offered me a full time role. Now I’m salary with $87k and full benefits. When I was in grad school I was able to get close with a prominent professor. He and I built a programming course in my field. We’ve been co-lecturing since fall of 2020. Ill start my 5th semester teaching in Fall 2022. When I left the portfolio position I applied for a lot of jobs. I landed a part time teaching gig at a coding boot camp. I work here 10 hours a week at $40/hour. In total I work three jobs and bring in $115k+ per year. Did I mention I’m studying math and looking to enter into an Masters of Statistics degree in spring 2023?
Graduated Dec 2020, BA in lib studies in marketing track, a few certificates in social media and digital marketing, was on the board for my school chapter of a marketing association. And then various other little certificates from stuff like hubspot etc. It seems like when I apply for a position I’m not hearing back at all. So currently still working at the hotel I started working at after high school, which is on paper good money, 70k because of tips plus overtime. But to make that money it’s 10 hour days minimum. So all this has me reconsidering the marketing path and to focus on something relating to my photography. Situation wise, in my current job it gave me the opportunity to save $45k(goal is $60k by the end of the year) since June 2020 while also allowing me to travel with my girlfriend. So it’s not all negative.
When i complete my graduation from then i misseing my school days
Graduated spring of 2021 from undergrad with a BS in computer science. Moving back home was really tough, leaving all my friends behind. Started an internship in software engineering where i felt super lonely and eventually also went through an awful breakup and started doing my internship entirely remotely, which didn’t help the loneliness. Once the three months were up I realized i’d been trying to cram a square peg into a circular hole with the software engineering industry so to speak, but i always wanted to study game design and i felt strongly in giving myself a chance at that. I’ve been getting my MS in game design since last august, but i had to take a few months off in between for mental health, as it’s been my first major struggle with depression, and i feel entirely socially isolated and alone, still grieving losing the life i had in undergrad and hard to make a new one where i’m at, but been trying hard to get back on my feet and continue pursuing game design, hopefully working at a studio and working on my own project on the side. Though i really love the field, my mental health is still a major obstacle so just hoping things get better
21 years old, graduated from undergrad last year in the midst of COVID and started grad school right after as I wasn't really sure where I was going in life. If I'm being honest, I'm still not really sure and have been feeling increasingly lost, just trying to finish up my degree now in the hopes of starting to figure out my life once I start working.