NIU

Affordable Insurance

Posted by Stacy on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 12:44 PM

When I was out shopping the other day I overheard this lady at the register in front of my checking out talking to the cashier about how her daughter dropped out of high school as a senior and she now has to work two jobs to support herself and can't find affordable car insurance even, so she has been driving around without insurance (which is definitely illegal, at least in Illinois). I felt so bad for the lady worrying about her daughter, but it also made me think about how lucky I am and glad that I am still in school and to have a good major (pharmacy) so I know that I will get a job as soon as I get out (well hopefully, people are always sick). I couldn't believe that someone would drop out of school when they are almost done, and then not go to college or even think about it at least. For me, I never even thought not going to college was an option. My parents both went to college and all of my friends and I did, we never once said, Oh maybe we won't. So when I hear about other people, it really does shock me and kind of take me out of my little bubble I grew up in.

But now the economy is so bad who knows what is going to happen even when we graduate with degrees and are qualified (and probably over qualified) for jobs. My friend the other day was joking about how he doesn't even feel bad about having a history major anymore because it doesn't matter what your major is now, no one is going to be able to find work. Another one of my friends graduated with a double degree and still lives at home, she had to go out and purchase temporary medical insurance because she is no longer on her parents since she graduated, but she expected to have a job by now and doesn't. She ended up getting this UniCare Texas plan and she doesn't really know much about it, but she says it is just temporary until she can find a job (who knows when that will be).

Hopefully I won't have to worry about all of this since I have a pretty demanding major, but still, it worries me that I will have spent all of this time and effort and hard work (and my dad's money) and all of it be wasted because of the economy.