I am 25 years old and uemployed. I owe about $9000 in debt. I am studying for electrical engineering but.?

Question

I have 2 DUIs last one I got in 06. One petty theft in 04. I am going to community college but I cant study cant focus due to stress about my debt, the bills that keep coming. my parents hoping someday I will become an engineer. I am looking for jobs but get denied after they check my background. I cant study (my main goal in life) and cant keep the bills off my back as well.... I dont know what to do. I am writing this cus I cant tell anyone everything. my high school friends are all ahead of me.... I feel embaressed meeting them..also I am writing this to let some stress out, but I do need suggestions to improve my life. thanks.....btw I quit drinking and trying to better myself....

Answer 1

You have had some problems in the past.  You are starting a future now.  Don't stress over the money. If you can pay it back, fine.  If not, don't stress.  Having a bad credit score for a while could actually end up being a good thing in the long run.  When you graduate you will be able to get a job.  The petty theft will be long past and most employers will give you a chance.  

Answer 2

Everything everyone else said plus:

Be great at interviews.  Learn how to put on the most professional appearance.  Dress neat, speak slowly and with authority, and most importantly, have a story ready for when they ask you about the things in your past.

"I had a rough childhood and was going through a particularly tough time when all that happened, but I've turned it all around since then and have been able to focus on regaining control of my life.  Just look at my great GPA as an example."

Talk to a professional guidance counselor for tips on this.  There's a lot to learn that most people overlook.  A good resume and a good interview will get you the job, even with a bad background.

P.S. Have a great GPA!  Just do it!

Answer 3

That's nothing. I had a friend that crashed his 81 Buick into a house, got charged with a DUI, went into debt, made the local paper when the town's biggest drug bust took place at his house...all before he turned 25. Next he started working at an oil changer place getting dirty all day trying to pay off his debt. Then one day he decided he didn't want to do S****y work for the rest of his life and quit his dirty job and went to community college. He rented a cheap room out of a house and studied his *** off while working part time at a department store just to pay tuition, rent, and food...which of course wasn't enough. He applied for a student loan which gave him the opportunity to pay off his debt at a low interest rate.

  Then he surprised us all when he was accepted into UCLA's Electrical Engineering program. 5 years later he graduated and is now working towards getting his PE (Professional Engineer license). That's a big change from the burnout he once was. So it IS possible. He said his secret was to make school your job. Stay on campus from 8am until 8pm if you can, even when you don't have any homework to do...you just sort of get used to it and you retain so much more. If you are determined enough and have enough interest in science and math, you can do it. Employers do worry about a criminal record, but not as much as you think. If you are making obvious progress, it isn't that big of a deal.

  I would look into getting student loans or some other source of financing to help you get rid of that debt, or at least consolidate it into a manageable monthly payment...at least to keep your sanity and know that the debt is payed off. But you won't be the first one to graduated with a debt! It's better to graduate with a debt than to not graduate at all with a useless debt.

Answer 4

You are only 25, you have lots of time. Just don't do anything stupid trying to get $9000. Relax and try to enjoy learning electronics.

Answer 5

I think it would be good to volunteer for some sort of youth work, working with young offenders and such. That way when you are in a job interview situation and your past offenses are brought up you can turn it into a good point and demonstrate how you are using your experience to help others.

If you approach the university you are studying at, many of them have hardship grants or loans for students such as yourself who are finding it hard.

Talk to your professors and tutors and tell them you are finding it hard and they should try to help.

Answer 6

You need to get the DUIs and petty thefts expunged from your record. Consult a lawyer about how to do this. Do not delay, there is a staute of limitations that applies to this.

There really is not much hope of getting an engineering job with a criminal record. I would put most of your effort into expunging that record before you try to do anything else.

If you do not manage to get a good engineering degree, there are  high paying job openings for people with criminal records in the drug smuggling and gun running industries. If you do, try the nuclear proliferation industry.

Answer 7

OK, no body is perfect. You're 25 and you've got a long road ahead of you.  You've made some mistakes, and who hasn't. Stay in school and get that engineering degree---you'll need it. You're going to need some good personal and professional contacts in order to get pass all the nonsense. You have to trust someone in order for others to try and help you---and you do need help. You will not be able to solve your problems on your own. Connect up with professors; with other engineers in your field of interest; with other engineering students in your field. Don't worry about your friends being so far ahead of you. Set your own goals in life and make them happen.  I would suggest that you connect up with some kind of career advisor and explain to him/her what has happened. One thing that you can kind of do to offset all of the negatives, is do some kind of significant community volunteer work, something that you can point to during a job interview that says something respectful and responsibile about your person. Do well in school and maintain a good GPA.

Focus on improving your person and living a good constructive life. You are going to need help from others, folks who can connect you up with the right people and organizations, and pull strings for you. If you do those things, you can over come the troubles of the past.  If you try to fix it on your own, you are almost certain to fail.

Concerning your debts: you need to talk to a lawyer about it; also, see about filing bankrupty if possible. There are financial institutions that can advise you on how to manage your bills.  You might speak to a local rehab counselor and see if you can qualify for one of their programs---which might pay for your schooling and other needs.

I wish you the best of luck because you sound like a pretty decent person who's trying to find his way.

Answer 8

Don't let the stress get to you.  If the calls really stress you out then just screen them, or disconnect your phone all together.  Throw all the letters away, why would you read them?  That's kinda like looking into the toilet after your done....  :P

There is really nothing they can do but whine, complain, and add to your debt.  Just focus on yourself and the immediate steps that it will take to start down the road to improving yourself.  For me.. its jogging, dancing (i'm a popper), and saving up my money.  Just set the debt aside until you are in a better position to deal with it.  Once you are, look into consolidating if possible.  

Answer 9

It's going to be hard as h**l getting a job once you do graduate.

They will always look at your criminal recorded no matter where you go.

I think you should quit, stop wasting money for a job you will never get.

It has been statistically proven that most people with a criminal recorded, go on to starting their own business's,.. or back to jail.