lane A.

--ok--$1100 dollars a month in wages--i work with people of questionable intelligence that create problems for me to fix--a company that refuses to spend money on staff or maintenance of equipment i need--a fast paced environment that confuses and frustrates me--no chance of advancement--schedule changes on short notice, and hours cut-- a refusal to even grant me a 30 cent raise--add to that a 90 minute trip to and from on bus that is 13 miles away, and on night shifts, which are at least two to three times a week--i bike that 13 miles back home--no buses run after 9pm-if i was making a decent living, all of this would be manageable, and i would put up with it--helping people and being needed, with a portable important job would be desirable--even a $25k a year position would be a quantum leap forward

---thank you--i used to sing for pay in nursing homes, i was able to talk to health care professionals about their jobs, so i do have some idea-this also included some hospitals--with all due respect--the b.s. i'm going through right now, probably makes your b.s. look like paradise--

First of all, I want to thank all of you for taking the time to read my post. I have decided to pursue a career in the medical field, with nursing a real possibility. I come to you today seeking council, about professional matters, education, and my life's direction, from you seasoned professionals. I am a 53 year old man, a navy veteran, never married, have no children or family, and was orphaned in my teens. For most of my life I have been attempting to achieve my dreams of making a living as a performer, I have acting and singing talent, many people were telling me that I would go far, but, sadly it is not that simple, I have made many sacrifices for this. The small entertainment business I was running, went belly up because of the recession. The only employment I was able to secure after this was in a restaurant. This income allows me to survive, and that is about it. To give you some idea of the undesirability of this position, raises are capped at 3%, and this year my raise request was ignored. My schedule constantly changes, making training for something else very difficult. I have been attempting to find other work through a state agency to get away from this, I believe my age has played a role in failing to find any alternative with my present skills. Last year, my vehicle that I bought from a brand new state in 1993, and had no problems with for the most part, became unusable, I now use, the bus, my bike, and my feet. It is now obvious, that I must jump to a 'stepping stone' job, in order to make training for better opportunities possible. I have read about certificate programs that could be completed in a few months. A C.N.A. Is one of these, but is this the best option? What about medical coding? Are there possibilities I am ignoring? I am sure that I have the intellect for something better, science was always something I could do, math, not so much, but I pride myself on my compassion and consideration for others. Again, I appreciate your time, and any input you may have.