Today, my brother called me, asking if I could help him do his taxes. Since he's a high school and college dropout, I thought all I had to do was a 1040EZ. No, last year he made more than twice what I earn, through self-employment. I have two Master's degrees and work at Burger King. FML
Collection
Thanksgiving
Questions about your love life, a burnt turkey and the cousin who knows everything: Thanksgiving, a contact sport.
Today, I found out my no-work-experience brother has just accepted a 50k/year job. He is still in school and has never had a job. I work as an intern for 11 hours a day, get rude emails from my boss, and have 3 degrees and 5 years work experience. FML
Today, after weeks of my brother being laid off from work, I was able to finagle him an interview for one of the entry level positions at my work. He got the job, only to refuse it because it doesn't pay enough. I thought 9 dollars an hour was a lot more than 0 dollars an hour. FML
Today, I sat down to do my taxes. As I was going over my forms, I found my employer only took $1.72 out the entire year for my Federal Income Taxes. I now owe the IRS over $500 that I don't have. FML
Today, I found out that my friend makes more money than I do. She's a high school dropout and working at a retail job at the mall. I went to college for four years to get my job. FML
Today, I asked my father for some help paying my college tuition. He told me he'd help me after I become more accredited than he is. My father has 2 PHDs. I'm studying to be an elementary school teacher. FML
Today, getting home from a long day at work, I checked the mail and saw three envelopes from the IRS. Apparently I now owe over $4,000. I only have $2 in my bank account. FML
Today, I met up with an old high school friend who I used to make fun of because he put so much effort into his studies. Turns out he makes my annual salary in a month. FML
Today, as a tax preparer, I had to deliver the bad news that a lady owed a very large sum in taxes. I even had my supervisor check my work as this was serious. Apparently she has been claiming exemptions she doesn't qualify for for years by going to another local tax office that closed down last year, due to fraud. FML
Today, while struggling to find a job that will accommodate my disabilities, an acquaintance ranted at me about how nobody wants to work hard, and they have to earn what they get. This chucklefuck works for his father, will inherit a multi-million dollar business, and bought his house from his aunt. FML
Today, after I used to look down on my brother for being a nerd, he now creates computer software for a living making megabucks. Meanwhile, I deliver lorry loads of gravel and cement to building sites for minimum wage, one step above breaking rocks for a living. FML
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Top comments
alycion 39
Some people with good business minds just aren't good at school. To assume that someone who wasn't good at or interested in school is going to not be successful is kind of messed up. Some of the brighter people I know didn't bother with higher education. Instead they learned by doing. And at least in the two career fields I worked in, that meant a lot more then having a degree. As someone with a degree, it was kind of frustrating knowing my degree meant crap when going up for a job. They were more interested in my real world experience.
californiapoppy 11
Well, that's a whopper of a problem
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Comments (91)
jamesrod885 6
I've seen a lot of people study for one thing and do something esle that thier degree has no bearing on as well. the real question is are you happy..?
Calgaryforthewin 2
Well looks like womems studies or poly sci strike again. Most expensive way to learn "would you like fries with that"
Grauncho 27
He's probably a drug dealer and thought it would be smart to claim it on his taxes.
Jemm_fml 29
Some of the most successful people in this world are college dropouts... while there's nothing wrong with higher education, please ponder this before deciding whether another master's is the solution to your problem.
Raesin 21
I would say YDI for being a judgmental prick. You have to realise that just because someone dropped out of college that that doesn't mean they're going to be an unsuccessful bum. Many colleges don't even teach the courses that people want to learn, and the ones that do may be in completely different countries. However, being a self employed person with a trade skill that is in high demand will often make a lot of money and certain skills (plumber, electrician) will never go out of business. It's also something that's not taught in schools and for some reason people look down on those with a trade skill. In schools it's drilled into you that to be successful to have to have the highest level education possible and it's simply not true.
SPRKY 6
Amen to that! 'Cept I went to college to become an electrician. But all good points!
TheDrifter 24
Here there are college courses required for a lot of trades, the difference between them and uni is you take them a month or two a year during the slow season, to prove your skills as you progress through your apprenticeship.
whY402Jay 12
Only certain fields tend to have job security. Sorry to hear that the two you pursued got you where you are. Just be patient and keep trying. Good Lord has a reason for everything.
ragini95 16
Everyone is being so rude to OP, about how he is being judgemental, but think about it. Wouldn't you be annoyed too? Clearly OP has worked hard, he has not one but two degrees. And at the end of the day his hard work hasn't amounted to as much as it should have. I don't think he means that all people that drop out aren't going to be successful. But it's natural to believe someone with a degree would earn more than someone without one.
TheDrifter 24
Don't drink the KoolAid. The "let us indoctrinate you until age 25 and you will be successful" spiel that academics spew is hogwash. Only certain degrees lead to success, and most often not enough success to catch up to their uneducated counterparts financially until middle age, with all the student loans to pay off.
jelly713 19
Sorry #60 but whether or not OP's frustrated of his situation or jealous of his brother's success, I don't believe he has any right to act like he is better than his brother because he studied his ass off & got an education. That arrogant attitude won't get OP anywhere. But at the same time insulting OP for being condescending toward his brother won't change anything either.
jnazzty 4
Self employment=drug dealer
RaspberryCookies 6
If you have all those degrees... Then why don't you apply elsewhere? It's not your brother's fault you work at BK, after all. And if you already applied elsewhere... Be patient for a job interview.
AplJax3 2
Cruel Irony. You've just found it.