Lately, I find myself in a real predicament. I am a recent graduate of the University of West Indies, who, like so many others, after months of trying, have still not been able to secure any form of employment. This, however, seems to be of no concern to the Students Loan Bureau whose loan officers seem to lack compromise or sensitivity to the current economic climate.

Seeing that I am unable to secure employment, I have taken it upon myself to start my own business. I operate out of my home and do fairly well as the money I earn allows me to meet my basic needs from week-to-week. I, however, wish to expand this venture and make it into official business. I am, however, unable to identify one single financial institution, after months of trying, willing to take a chance on the young and ambitious of this country.

Better society

Our leaders speak about education being the key to building a better society yet, after spending four years of one's life making numerous sacrifices and acquiring large debts, we find ourselves in worse situations than we were four years ago. What are the options available for persons like myself? Should I follow so many of my counterparts and use the education I have acquired, at the cost of the Jamaican taxpayers, to go and help build the economy of a foreign nation? Should I continue to hope? Should I stay home and wallow in depression? Should I go out go out there and make something of myself by any means necessary?

When I am faced with these choices, I consider many of my fellow Jamaicans who are in even more dire situations, many of whom have mouths other than their own to feed.

I am, etc.,

Lejoun

i2n7@hotmail.com

St Catherine