I don't speak up in threads like this very often.
I graduated from college in December 2009 with a degree and a certification in technical writing. I worked my ass off to have a spectacular GPA and came well recommended by everyone but my department head (she wouldn't recommend anyone without a masters, and I couldn't afford to get one).
Between December 2009 and now, I have submitted more applications, resumes, cover letters, and references than I can begin to count. I beat the pavement, I made calls, I followed up on submissions. Out of all of those, I got several unpaid internship offers, but they weren't going to lead to jobs (I was specifically told this). I couldn't afford to go 6-8 months working 65 hours a week without pay.
I work a low-level retail management job...from the only company that actually called me in for an interview (Target). I like my job very much, but due to the nature of it, I can't take on a second job...my schedule there changes almost daily (and I don't mean the two weeks in advance kind of daily, I mean literally every day it can and has changed).
Last year, my AGI was $16K. This year it will be $18K. I work 40 hours a week. I don't live extravagantly. I have $50K in student loan debt, which averaged around $500/mo for it. However, when I had to purchase a new car (more on that below), I had to put myself on the new Income-Based-Repayment plan. Yes, it took away 3 of my loan payments b/c I don't make enough...but it didn't put any money back in my pocket...it goes straight into my car payment.
When I graduated college, I had $1200 in savings. By April of 2010, I had $35. All of it in car repairs. I have since purchased a new vehicle.
I have a cell phone, student loans, a car payment, car insurance and one credit card. By the time you take out all of that, I have around $250 a month for gas, food, and anything else I want to do. Last month, I got three different infections back to back (a throat, a sinus and then an ingrown hair gone bad)...even with insurance that took $150. Can you live on $100/mo?
I live at home, with parents who don't accept my sexuality, and I hide it from them, because if they kick me out, I would be on the street. I don't qualify for foodstamps, or any housing help because the state of Texas deems anything over $15K as "above the poverty line."
Every month, I put $200 into savings. Every month, something has forced me to withdraw from savings.
I did what I was told I had to do, go to college, work hard, and you'll get a good job. I feel that I do deserve to be making twice what I do now. If that makes me entitled, then great, I'm entitled.
I bring all of this up to say that if you think that a lot of the Occupy movement (of which I'm not really a part of, simply b/c I think it's not well organized enough) is a generation of twenty-somethings who feel that they should have jobs and money handed to them, you're wrong. Most of them are like me.
I'm 25 years old and I am the 99%.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer