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Meh. College grad here who moved back to Appalachia knowing I would not find "professional" high paying work like I was moving towards in the outer suburbs of D.C. I went home because I love it and know I can make a difference just by working hard, carrying on our traditions, and raising my kids to do the same.
Areas with struggling economies would love to attract college graduates. It is college grads like the speaker, who despite her attempts to convince the reader of the alternative, want nothing to do with struggling economies. It is all about what you value in life and want for yourself and your family. The speaker is free to make her choice, and even lament that she can't change the region, state, world into the way she wants it to be, but in the end she has a choice to move home and isn't taking it. Her priorities are elsewhere.
Last edited by westsideboy; 03-07-2018 at 08:45 PM..
Half of the people in the comments section were insulting and not worth listening to. When they call others who don't share their worldview ignorant, hateful bigots, they're merely projecting their own personality and character flaws onto others.
Agree or disagree, the author makes some valid points about West Virginia and how the state, as a whole, hasn't done itself any favors to be better positioned for the future.
Agree or disagree, the author makes some valid points about West Virginia and how the state, as a whole, hasn't done itself any favors to be better positioned for the future.
Yeah, that's probably true. The author doesn't really have many suggestions on improvements beyond her personal wants and opinions on teacher salaries though. No blame implied, if there were easy answers, they would have already been done. That is sorta why coal, gas, timber, and other natural resources are promoted. You have to sell what you've got as a community and natural resources are plentiful in WV.
I am not convinced that Wheeling, specifically, is such a bad place for college grads. There are 4 colleges in the immediate area, you are on the fringe of Greater Pittsburgh, so commuting east is an option too. I guess I don't necessarily buy the idea that a college grad specialized in foreign language is DOA in Wheeling, WV. I hope CT comes along and gives his $.02 as a Northern Panhandle native.
I agree that the author doesn't offer much in terms of ideas or solutions and I'm not sure there are any new ideas beyond stating that the State needs to do more to diversify the economy and spread the tax base beyond natural resources and tourism.
I've had similar thoughts about Wheeling but I keep coming back to the idea that maybe the area is too far out on the fringe of Pittsburgh. When I make visits to Wheeling I feel the influence from Pittsburgh and southwestern PA but it doesn't seem, at least on the surface, that it matters in terms of the economy. I could be wrong though since I'm not there enough to fully experience the area.
The Washington Post has this tendency every couple of years to run some article on WV that they try to use to say hey here's a place that is worse than actual DC or inner Baltimore so we really don't have it that bad and you should feel good about yourself if you live there because WV is really bad. Basically it's a good liner for kitty litter or a bird cage.
The Washington Post has this tendency every couple of years to run some article on WV that they try to use to say hey here's a place that is worse than actual DC or inner Baltimore so we really don't have it that bad and you should feel good about yourself if you live there because WV is really bad. Basically it's a good liner for kitty litter or a bird cage.
Disagree completely with your take on it. I feel like the Post has written some interesting, thoughtful articles about WV, re coal, poverty, opioids, etc. They've also written about our role in our nation's history and our natural beauty.
However, armed with my bachelor’s degree in modern languages and anthropology, I was met with bleak professional options.
No, there aren't likely many job openings in WV for that skill set but she knew that before pursuing it. Maybe 100 years ago but there isn't a much need for Italian interpreters either.
She complains about coal but the energy producers are expanding in WV into renewable energy sources. Why would she have not pursued an education in that area? We aren't likely going to see many Italians brought in to do these jobs.
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