Mr. V...I am officially educatedd and sitll working minimum wage work. My son's girlfriend has no college training and she is entering management positions. It has more to do with opportunities available to people at the right time, location, situations, contacts, etc, etc.

I have a university degree, a college diploma and three trades under me. Still could not get my foot in the door of any of the fields I schooled in. The piece of paper has very little to do with today's indication of a person's abilities or intellect. It is frustrating, demeaning, and stressful how the employment field is practiced today and the economy, population size, even what system of government influences all of your life issues.

The self esteem and confidence building is totally in our own hands during these hard times. I have very little confidence in myself also and I often see myself as totally lacking in skills and useless to employers, nobody wants me, I am worthless in the work force. I do know though, that these are my own thought patterns and only I am capable of changing them. Life is dealing us lots of evidence to support our negative thoughts and feed into our low esteem, but only we can be willing to fight back against the damaging thought patterns we feed ourselves. Nobody else can do it for us. Find some songs that mention fighting back, winning a battle, being strong, surviving, etc, and listen to these songs. I like The Change by Garth Brooks and I'm A Survivor by Destiny's Child. Anything that you can think of that will help your thoughts redirect or remind you of keeping the faith...not faith in the world but faith that you can beat the thought patterns. It is a starting point. If nothing else...please remember that I and many others here, are supportive of your struggles. We all want to maintain some dignity and mental self control and sense of pride. Everyday coming is a new day to change and every day gone is another day survived. I am there for you. Lots of hugs