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Ok, so, working your ass off and making next to nothing sucks. I agree.

But realistically?

We all engineer our lives in a way that decides whether we'll be stuck on minimum wage or not. We make choices, and there are consequences.

I don't make a lot of money. Though I work more than a normal part-time position would expect. But I am well aware that this is the type of job I have chosen - both through applying for jobs, and through my educational decisions. In my case I am working my way through university, so that I can expect more than minimum wage (amongst other things!), but I am not eligible for any support from my government, social security etc. I have no choice but to work in order to survive - suprisingly enough, no matter what income or assets my family may have, those are not mine, and, in this case, they are not made available to me, except in the form of a roof over my head. I also made seemingly smart choices, such as ensuring I did not have children before being ready, finishing school no matter how much it seemed pointless or challenging and keeping my options open even when caring for dying family members (which has occupied many of my 21 years).

I understand the difficulties one faces in attempting to further oneself. However, I also understand the hurdles faced in the process of gaining the qualifications necessary to do that.

I am well aware that this article will not be particularly popular, as many people do choose to blame their circumstances, rather than address the problem. And I do not blame those people, because it is hard. But opportunities are available to all. We need to have the determination to find and pursue them - which can be incredibly difficult to maintain, because this is not always a quick process. I don't claim that life is fair, simply that every person does have the opportunity to further themself, one way or another.

However, given my own struggles, my own experiences, I do feel that minimum wage is fair. If you want more, work for it! And that, of course, doesn't just mean going to university/college, or working a ridiculous number of hours in the week. It means searching for opportunities, prioritising (and sometimes this can mean the kind of job you really want versus the kind of job that offers you real opportunities) and compromising! The truth is that one step at a time, you can end up with what you want in life. But it really is one step at a time, including steps that seem to be far from what you really want.

Life is rarely ever simple. But chances are, one way or another, your wage reflects your effort....not so much in your job, as in your efforts to arrive at the job.

Learn more about this author, Charlotte B.
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