I apologize in advance for the self-pity party, but I'm fucking annoyed, to be honest. I'm 29 and I got my bachelor's degree in 2015 in Anthropology and English. I didn't realize until I was already in college that those degrees don't amount to shit when it comes to making money. I'm awful at math, so I had no chance at pursuing a STEM degree. I figured that it made more sense to complete the degree than not have any degree at all since my parents paid for it. (See where I'm privileged in certain ways?)
I now work food service at a school in Colorado and I've always worked minimum wage. It actually works out fine in a lot of ways because with the couple months off I get, I can get medical stuff out of the way (like my bilateral salpingectomy back in June.) I live with my parents and they are merciful enough to charge me a reasonable amount of rent in labor, not money. I have Medicaid, which is so much cheaper and provides better care than any private insurance I've ever paid for.
But for all of my labor, a $0.19 raise? I know I'm disposable, but surely my cheery disposition and good work deserve more than that shit amount. Oh well. At least I get summers off (unpaid, of course!)