Hi all. I’m a 21 year old guy, previously dropped out of college last year. I did 5 semesters and racked up a debt of nearly $30K. I dropped out, as I was pursuing an art degree that, A) did not seem worthwhile, as most things I was learning I already knew, & B) I am not a very academically inclined person. I signed up for college under my parents pressure of using it as a way to lock in steady job and secure life.

After dropping out, I ran my freelance graphic design business for a few months, which was great until it was slowly less and less dependable. I’m not a sales guy & unfortunately I had to grab a more secure and dependable job due to that fact.

I landed a full time job making $16.00 per hour, working in a call center as a CSR. I have since gotten my annual raise and now make $16.48, and also made a lateral transition into our Administrative department (no longer taking any customer calls, solely communication through IM & various other duties). I live with a room mate and we split $1,400 in rent each month, and I have about $200 to myself after expenses, on a month to month basis.

I have outstanding student loan debt as well as racked up credit debt of nearly $900. I am one of those people that constantly am working to improve, and am very insecure about how I stack up with others my age. How did everyone else here start? I’m nervous that I’m not doing well enough.