My Last Blog

America is unique country. It's the land of opportunity. Only in America I met a school dropout who earns 6 figures. In Europe young people know that without education they will never get a good job that pays a good money and provide financial security(unless you have an entrepreneurial abilities and financial means to run a business). America has spoiled its citizens with decent wages, that so many people became reluctant and lazy not only to advance their education but many drop school at the age of 12. This shocked me when I first came to US in 1999. Higher education is more affordable in the USA than in Europe, and in ex-USSR in particular. So I don't understand why not to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Even though my parents have never got their higher education due to financial hardship of that time, they always reminded me and taught me that I have to finish university. This is what I teach my little kids (I have 4 and the oldest is 6). I tell my boy that if he don't master his home work, he will master a big shovel. Sometimes it works. So if my kids graduate from university I'll consider my mission accomplished.

I work in the company that is very vulnerable to current economic crisis. I have survived two lay-offs for the past 2 months, but I'm not sure if I stay employed there after New Year. They plan a pretty massive lay-off. I see that a lot of my co-workers are freaked out. They are in panic. Because my company is one of few in this area that pays to an employee with no high school diploma the wage equal to bachelor degree salary. I understand them. If they lose their job, the next one will be an assembly line for a minimum wage. Some of them stayed with this company for 20 years. They made their way up through hard work. After few months of my employment I realized that this is very painful and long way to advance, that, in fact, does not guarantee you a secured future.

So, here I am at WSU completing my degree. I really don't see any other way to succeed and provide a better future for myself and my family. And maybe this economic crisis will change minds of many Americans to encourage them to advance their education.