Starting Over In Life

[Dillon]

I haven’t been on here in quite a while so I thought I make a post. Today I was laid off from my retail/warehousing job of Home Depot after only working there since January. It was nice while it lasted but now I have no income. For the first time in 5-6 years, I am planning on moving back into my Mom’s place as I’ve been really down on my luck especially since late 2024. For those who had followed way before I lost my job related to my career after having appendicitis and sepsis then remained unemployed for 6 months until I got a part time job while still struggling for basic things like foods and other necessities. I renewed my apartment lease back in February of this year as I thought things were getting better but they are in fact not and I’ve been in such a pigeon hold that I’ve been hurting emotionally and financially. My retail job cut my hours below 20 hours a week then decided to let me go despite having great performance. It hurts to know where I’ve been living I don’t have much support nor care and I’ve struggled on my own in literally poverty conditions where I’ve skipped meals to stretch a dollar and save up money for rent and bills. I had to open up a credit card for the first time of my life as I couldn’t keep up with what I needed in terms of the cost of living. $500 is all I have left to my name and I have to pay my apartment complex a total of $3000 for one month’s rent plus a reletting fee to terminate my lease that’s equal to 85% of my rent.
On to top this and as of recently, I have a family member who got a cancer diagnoses earlier this month and because of this unfortunate circumstance involving a close family member, I am more than likely moving back home with family after living in independence. My situation has been quite bad that I had set up a “gofundme” page just to see if anyone would support and help with expenses. Where I live now I literally have no support and I feel incredibly isolated; the shutdowns just make things worse from being overstimulated from things in general.
I don’t feel like typing anymore in the post itself but I feel like everything has been stagnant and going downhill. How does one recover from a major setback like this from no career progression, losing income, losing a place of independence and just resetting again from scratch? I know things are beyond my control and have been but I feel guilty for not doing better and feeling like I failed in life.

 

[Aspychata]

Dillon, l believe Home Depot is selling way less. I don't believe it had to do with you at all. Have you into jobs abroad where you may use some of your expertise?

Schmidt Marine

 

[Outdated]

I agree with Aspychata, in fact I made the same suggestion to you about 2 years ago. You studied and got yourself a degree in a specialised field, but to make use of that degree you need to travel to where that degree is in high demand. As an example, I can't imagine there'd be much call for a marine biologist in Nebraska.

Even a lot of places that have sea frontage aren't too interested in what's in that sea, and regions that rely on commercial fishing for their economy most certainly don't want people like that coming in with big words like ecosystem and sustainable. They see things like that as a threat to their livelyhoods.

Institutions that study and research biology aren't going to be very interested in you until you have at least 5 years experience out in the field so you need to get a job in that sort of field first and of course you'll be starting at the bottom - in the tourism industry.

There's a lot of countries, mostly in the tropics, that rely heavily on tourism and they invest heavily on researching and protecting what is to them a crucial financial asset. If you want to go down that path, get a working holiday visa and spend a couple of years in another country, then you need to make that decision soon. In most countries there's a cut off age limit for working holidays - 35.

 

[Dillon]

I agree with Aspychata, in fact I made the same suggestion to you about 2 years ago. You studied and got yourself a degree in a specialised field, but to make use of that degree you need to travel to where that degree is in high demand. As an example, I can't imagine there'd be much call for a marine biologist in Nebraska.

Even a lot of places that have sea frontage aren't too interested in what's in that sea, and regions that rely on commercial fishing for their economy most certainly don't want people like that coming in with big words like ecosystem and sustainable. They see things like that as a threat to their livelyhoods.

Institutions that study and research biology aren't going to be very interested in you until you have at least 5 years experience out in the field so you need to get a job in that sort of field first and of course you'll be starting at the bottom - in the tourism industry.

There's a lot of countries, mostly in the tropics, that rely heavily on tourism and they invest heavily on researching and protecting what is to them a crucial financial asset. If you want to go down that path, get a working holiday visa and spend a couple of years in another country, then you need to make that decision soon. In most countries there's a cut off age limit for working holidays - 35.

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This has been a problem for me where I can’t even get a job in relation to that or closely towards my degrees that I’ve practically given up on pursuing the biology field completely. My field is really saturated with competition anyway and even more so in the U.S that it’s impossible to get back into my field. I still get interviews but I still don’t know how to do them even after having dozens upon dozens of them and employers just take issue with me it seems just because I have a social issue/deficit. I’m looking more towards self employment as I’ve gotten no kind of help in gaining meaningful employment and I just believe that I’m meant to be locked out of the public workforce especially in my field where in in thousands of dollars in debt.

I’m sorry for this comment but just trying to pursue standard employment and people not accepting for who I am just makes me realize I don’t fit in anywhere and I need to just make my own direction.

 

[Mary Terry]

@Dillon - There's nothing wrong with moving back home for a while until you get back on your feet. If you still have the gofundme page, please post the link. Some of us may be able to help you with a contribution.

I recently read that Home Depot is not going to raise prices in response to the tariff situation but it sounds like they're going to lay off employees to keep their overhead low.

 

[Outdated]

My field is really saturated with competition anyway and even more so in the U.S that it’s impossible to get back into my field.

You need to think a little more laterally, but as mentioned this also requires thinking outside the US.

There are many industries that require parts of your experience, you can earn seriously good money and gain the field experience you need to get in to the sort of job you really want.

Another option is companies like Paspaley Pearls, as a diver and harvester on their massive oyster farms. They work long shifts but they also get paid exceptionally well. It's only shallow diving but you'll spend a lot of hours under water.

Recruitment - Paspaley Group

 

[Dillon]

@Dillon - There's nothing wrong with moving back home for a while until you get back on your feet. If you still have the gofundme page, please post the link. Some of us may be able to help you with a contribution.

I recently read that Home Depot is not going to raise prices in response to the tariff situation but it sounds like they're going to lay off employees to keep their overhead low.

Yes I still have a gofundme page, I actually just created it yesterday. Here it is down below.

Donate to Support Dillon's Journey to Stability and Health, organized by Dillon Campbell

 

[FayetheAspie]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I thought you had an offer for a teaching job in your field after going to Home Depot. Did that not go through or do I have your story mixed with that of someone else on the forum? I am also sorry to hear of your family member having cancer. I hope they can make a full recovery and be 100% cancer free.

 

[Dillon]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I thought you had an offer for a teaching job in your field after going to Home Depot. Did that not go through or do I have your story mixed with that of someone else on the forum? I am also sorry to hear of your family member having cancer. I hope they can make a full recovery and be 100% cancer free.

Oh I actually never got the teaching job which I didn’t care anyway given that the department chair of the science department I interviewed with took issue that I probably couldn’t do the job because I wasn’t articulating my thoughts clearly and my social communication style would’ve been a problem when talking with people. This is why I won’t do interviews is because of this kind of judgement right here despite having years of experience in education and teaching.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Oh I actually never got the teaching job which I didn’t care anyway given that the department chair of the science department I interviewed with took issue that I probably couldn’t do the job because I wasn’t articulating my thoughts clearly and my social communication style would’ve been a problem when talking with people. This is why I won’t do interviews is because of this kind of judgement right here despite having years of experience in education and teaching.

My social communication style seems to be quite a problem as well.

 

[Mary Terry]

Yes I still have a gofundme page, I actually just created it yesterday. Here it is down below.

Donate to Support Dillon's Journey to Stability and Health, organized by Dillon Campbell

Done! I hope it helps, at least a little bit.

 

[Judge]

Dillon, l believe Home Depot is selling way less. I don't believe it had to do with you at all. Have you into jobs abroad where you may use some of your expertise?

Schmidt Marine

It's my understanding that both Home Depot and particularly Lowe's are not in good financial shape at the present. Along with a number of unrelated retailers and restaurants over the present market uncertainty.

Little consolation I know, but one can't really take such things too personally under the present circumstances.

 

[Rodafina]

@Dillon,
I'm sad to read this update - it seems like you've tried so hard to make things work and you've had very hopeful moments that you shared here. Sometimes, there are just too many challenges, and in those moments, if there is help available to you, it's probably worth it to take it.

I graduated college and lived on my own for a long while, but ended up back with my parents in my 30s. It's a hard pill to swallow, no doubt and there are big feelings that can come with not being able to live independently. But, when it comes to skimping on meals and paying rent on credit, it is time to put our pride aside and take what is being offered. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but just trying to say that it's understandable that some of us may land back at a parent's home. This can offer the stability needed to deal with very serious issues (like health issues, mental health challenges, or finding employment) and gather enough resources to try again.

Living with a parent as an adult child can have the added benefit of being available to them as they age. Our parents' needs change as they age and being present in their house can give you the opportunity to care for them even as they are supporting you. It can also present the opportunity to get to know our parents in a new way and strengthen the relationship by sharing a different stage of life with them.

I'm sorry you are facing these challenges right now and I hope that you can find some relief soon. You are not lacking in perseverance, and if you can just catch your breath for awhile, I think you will rise again.

 

[Aspychata]

Not a day goes by that l think how some of us are close to financial ruin, and we have no parents to fall back on either. But the struggle gets harder as one ages, so just keep marching forward and stay in warrior mode, sometimes l start to believe only the clueless survive.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I second Outdated's suggestions. Start looking elsewhere. There are jobs where you don't have to talk to anyone. Even work in a bait shop and learn about fishing and types of fish. You never know what you might learn.

The trouble with graduate degrees in biology is there isn't much demand at this time. Hasn't been for a long time. That doesn't mean you can't work yourself into one.

It's extremely frightening, but sometimes you have to make some big changes.

PS - I have reinvented myself on average every 10 years. It's not a failure, it's just coping with the cards you're dealt.