Fight or Flight?

[junkman18]

Originally Posted by wave06

I just graduated college, from an expensive private university and owe an insane amount of money in loans. It has been six months and I am still unemployed. Every job that I find that seems perfect for me, but by the time I get to the bottom of the job announcement, I am slapped in the face with "must be bilingual Spanish" or "bilingual Spanish preferred." Ahhhh! This is for over 75% of the jobs. The other 25% you must have tons of experience and even that is valued over education.

I don't know what to do anymore. I decided to go into social services to help people, but I cannot do that unless I speak Spanish? So, people give me the typical response, "Didn't you learn in school?" Okay, well the three years of Spanish courses I took in school hardly qualify me as fluent or bilingual. That (textbook Spanish)is not what people are speaking on the streets. Furthermore, I should not be forced to learn or speak any language to get a job unless it was my decision to move to a country with an official language other than English. Of have I been under a rock and our official language is now Spanish?

Should I just give up and leave Southern California? It's my home and I love it very much, over 5 generations born here. But, I don't know if I can take anymore. I am so frustrated. I do not want to leave my family but I am extremely depressed about this situation. And lets not even get into the real estate out here. At this rate, I'll never be able to move out of my parents' house. Do I have to leave the area I was born and raised in and love just to make a better living? Any sugguestions, personal experiences, etc. are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks!

Pack up and live California, Go to a state where engilsh speaking people are still welcome.

[cynwldkat]

Many areas in the LA area are now 75% hespanic. And of those many still only speak spanish. And you are right, it's not proper spanish It's street spanish. No you should not have to be required to speak spanish but it's to late to change what has become of CA now. I agree, move where the people speak english.

[Sorcerer68]

I worked in Social Service, specifically with at-risk youth. During my job search, I found education to be the most important factor. "Salary commesurate with degree". I'm bilingual and I figured it would open more doors for me prior to my finishing college but I found education to be paramount. Being Spanish speaking really didn't help a lot until I finally found a job and started Spanish family group...a blonde, blue eyed white guy. Keep looking. You only need one job. Visualise what you want and shoot for the best possible result. Somewhere in the city you talents will be appreciated. Most of the people I worked with couldn't speak Spanish and 90% of my clientele were Latino.

As with other areas in life, attitude is everything. Positive visualisation brought me everything I have today.