Opening Post/Take That Job Stupid

Because there should always be a statement of intention.

I recently graduated and by recent, I mean within the last two years. What my degrees were in is irrelevant seeing as what you choose as a major rarely reflects what you want to do in life. You're asked to pick a direction but God knows really where you go. Just like your grades (unless you drop out) mean very little.

And I believe I've come to another topic in this opening post. The whimpy, whiny nature of our modern society.

I work two low-paying jobs. Why? I got a degree (two really). I should be a professional by now shouldn't I? Well that's not how things work. I was taught at an early age, if your job pays the bills it's a good job. Some people get the job that pays the bills and allows for weekend trips and splurging while some people get the job that just gets them by. I'm the latter. Do I wish I was paid more, of course. Do I want a job that showcases the skills I developed getting myself into $20,000 worth of debt? I'd be an idiot if I said no. Am I happy? Well, yeah actually. I work all the time, I'm tired all the time, I'm scraping by all the time. But kids, I'm lucky. I only had to weather three months of unemployment before I had a steady paycheck coming in. Only three months of eating what my roommate left behind and (yes) occasionally shop-lifting from grocery stores. I've had friends sleeping on my couch who were worse off. And my jobs are awesome.

I spent two months driving a cab before a few too many close-calls with drunken frat boys and too many nights walking by myself at 3 or 4 in the morning through a bad stretch of town (I didn't have a car of my own then) led me to quit. Luckily by then I'd already picked another job at a hookah lounge. A few months after that, I started nude modeling for extra cash and few months after that I picked up a third job at a record store. Like I said, my jobs are awesome although not as easy as it may seem.

A week ago I was at my record job when a young man came in asking for an application. I was the last hire for awhile so we had to tell the kid no. His response,
"Yeah, no one's hiring and I'm not working in a kitchen,"
What this kid didn't know is that both me and my coworker have second jobs working in a kitchen. I asked how old he was,
"19"
I laughed. Hard. It was rude, but really young man, do you think you're too good for a kitchen?

And here we're running into a problem. Now I admit, I've been holding down two jobs since I was sixteen, many of them service industry while a lot people I know didn't start holding down a job until they hit college or even after graduation. But I think I need to lay down some wisdom.

1) A job is a job. If you wait until you find the ideal job for you you are going to be waiting a long time and by the time you get your ass kicked enough times to consider taking that job you were above... that job will be gone. It's rude, but you can always quit if you find something better.
2) I still live in my small college town and I've learned if you work downtown they will take care of you. All the bars and restaurants know each other. If you piss off the manager of one, you know the manager of another has heard about it.
3) Every "cool" job starts you at the most bullshit position. You start washing dishes until they know they can trust you to not come in too drunk or high to cook. Then you cook and they learn you can handle a decent rush, then they let you tend bar or serve. That's how it works. Then you can get drunk and/or stoned after the shift with the rest of the veterans, because you earned it.
4) Fuck your degree. Your degree says only two things, you paid a shit ton of money for a piece of paper and you know a lot about Medieval Literature. It doesn't say "can be trusted to show up" it doesn't say "Will work hard" and it certainly doesn't say "This person is an intelligent and productive member of society". Think of all the people you've seen passed out drunk covered in their own vomit at a party. They got their degree too.
5) Being a waitress, cook or dishwasher is not easy and only the best are able to turn it into a lucrative job. You know the bartender who's always at your favorite bar and remembers your name and drink? They take home $200 in a night and that didn't happen in one week of hire.
6) My last point may be the most jarring. You think you're better than the guy in the kitchen? You've just asked someone to be alone with your food. In other words, you given them control over what is about to go in your body. Think about it.

Take the job that's offered. It looks better that you've had SOME experience rather than you finding a polite way to explain that you weren't willing to work.