Are you better off than you were 4 or 5 years ago?

Yes. I'm taller, in MUCH better shape, have a job, a car, and more resources. Of course, in a jump from 15 to 20, this should be expected.

 

For sure, I was a broke college student eating ramen noodles and 99cent double cheesburgers and frequenting bootie clubs. Now I'm stable, ride tight whips and eating lobster at the Palm. I can't complain...

 

Yes,

I have my own company with a great group of people working here, and a lovely family.

I feel blessed.

DD

 

My family is a little better. My dad makes over 100 grand a year, so we are pretty happy and well off.

 

4 years ago I was living in my car on the streets of Houston, selling drugs and stealing stuff for a living.

3 years ago I was staying with a friend in Monterrey, Mexico stealing stuff and selling drugs for a living.

2 years ago I was living in Harris County Jail without seeing sunlight or leaving a small concrete-and-steel room for 8 months, doing nothing for a living because I wasn't living.

1 year ago I was living in state prisons such as Garza West Unit in Beeville, Lopez Unit in Edinberg; and in Harris County's Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Humble next to the city dump, working on hoe squads and running a treatment facility as an inmate for a living.

Today, I'm living in a $300,000 house in Hyde Park, Austin; working at a legit job for a living.

I'm a little better off. Thank you for reminding me, ROXRAN, I needed it right now.

 

DT,

Seriously. You are my hero and will always look up to you man. Im glad to see that the system works for some and that troubled people can indeed put their past behind them and lead a productive life inspite of previous indiscretions. Congrats.

 

Ehh, five years ago I was a senior in college,nearly broke, getting drunk as hell and partying with my friendsmore often as not and having the time of my life.

Now I have a big important job and am at work right now on saturday; but am very defeinitely not broke, also very definitely not having the time of my life.

To each his own I guess.

 

Honestly, I worked more in school than I do now.

School - Projects, Papers and it almost always came home with me. I didn't have the brains of some of my classmates so had to go the extra mile just to make educational ends meet.

A job- I had to work a bunch of jobs that sucked and I barely made enough to pay the bills. And it didn't leave me enough time for fun.

Now, I run my own business. I have about 15 employees at age 23, and though I'm here at work on Saturday as well. I couldn't ask for a better outcome considering there were times in school that I didn't think I would ever see some results for the work I was putting in. So though things aren't great all the time, I really have no complaints, I know I'm gettin mine.

 

The question is, what do the next 4 or 5 years hold in store for us. I'm a sophomore in college right now facing an unsteady economy. 4 years ago I was a happy go lucky highschool student with little worries. I guess it's all relative.

 

no not really, but i guess that's what happens when the financial markets tank on you

 

I'm worse off in a lot of ways, but better in a lot of ways too. However, finacially, I was better off 5 years ago.

 

No, 4-5 years ago, the rockets were a winnig team

 

Yes and no. 4 years ago I was on the verge of getting a better-paying job. But that job's history (partly my own fault, looking for another job during a recession). I was in love and engaged but she returned to her native Japan and was the first to quit on trying to find our common ground (me going there, her coming here; her job leaves the "where are we going to live?" question too much up in the air, and eventually it just dissolved, and I can't say it doesn't hurt, although I am a little relieved. Long distance relationships? Phooey!)

On the other hand, I'm getting some writing done, I'm Pollyanna enough to think there's a silver lining somewhere. Rather than look for that silver lining, I'm actually trying to work to make it appear. So we'll see how it goes.

 

Hell ya. I'm more mature. Have a better haircut. Dress better. Better looking girlfriend. I'm graduating with a BSEE in December from the #10 engineering school in the country, Texas. And, I've got a well-paying job lined up here in Austin. Life is good.

 

5 years ago I was working for Enron .... arrr .... nevermind.

 

considering that five years ago I was a beer guzzling college student living off of mommy and daddy... yes, even in my present state of joblessness, I am better off.